Group Drumming Research
RECREATIONAL MUSIC-MAKING: A COST-EFFECTIVE GROUP INTERDISCIPLINARY STRATEGY FOR REDUCING BURNOUT AND IMPROVING MOOD STATES IN LONG-TERM CARE WORKERS - 2003
Barry Bittman, MD, Karl T. Bruhn, Christine Stevens, MSW,MT-BC, James Westengard, and Paul O. Umbach, MA
Advances in Mind-Body Medicine Fall/Winter 2003, Vol. 19 No. 3/4
Research using the HealthRHYTHMS?? group empowerment drumming protocol enhanced with the Yamaha Clavinova?? demonstrated statistically significant reductions in burn-out and improvements in mood states for long-term care workers (Bittman and colleagues, Advances in Mind-Body Medicine, Fall/Winter, 2003). Projected cost-savings of $89,000 annually(by an independent healthcare economic impact firm) to the long-term care industry were actually exceeded by real-world findings. Projected savings to the long term care industry could reach $1.46 Billion.
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http://www.mind-body.org/rmm.html
Research
While group drumming has certainly survived the test of time, the scientific community is just beginning to develop a rudimentary understanding of the biological, psychological and sociological benefits of this multifaceted Recreational Music-making activity.A landmark controlled scientific investigation Bittman and colleagues, (Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, January 2001) demonstrated statistically significant positive cell-mediated immune system changes that correlated with one-hour group drumming sessions using the HealthRHYTHMS?? group empowerment drumming protocol.This unique approach has been successfully utilized as a well-accepted, cost-effective strategy in a host of clinical outcome-based programs for individuals facing the challenges of heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease and asthma.
COMPOSITE EFFECTS OF GROUP DRUMMING MUSIC THERAPY ON MODULATION OF NEUROENDOCRINE-IMMUE PARAMETERS IN NORMAL SUBJECTS - 2001
Barry B. Bittman, MD; Lee S. Berk, DrPH, MPH; David L. Felten, MD, PhD; James Westengard, BS; O. Carl Simonton, MD; James Pappas, MD and Melissa Ninehouser, BS
Alternative Ther Health Med 2001:
The study’s principal investigator, Barry Bittman, MD, Neurologist, was interviewed by Remo Belli, founder of Remo Inc., the company that funded the project.
Mr. Belli