The Power of Drumming

By Kassidy Ravina

 

 

 

 

Joe Ciarvella, a Mahanoy City native, is in the business of teaching people to connect, heal, learn, and celebrate by drumming. I got an overly fantastic opportunity to ask him about some of his work.

Ciarvella currently lives in Pottsville but spends his time travelling to festivals, nursing homes, schools and libraries with his drumming circle.

“Some of the places I have travelled to bring drumming include Inclusion Festival, Jermyn PA.; S.H.A.R.E. Fest in Wind Gap; Warf Rats, a recovery group in Harrisburg; The Gardens at Pottstown; Providence Place in Pine Grove; Mahanoy City Public Library; Mahanoy Area, Minersville Area, North Schuylkill, Shikellamy Area school districts; and anywhere Chris Beckfield from the federal ACHIEVE program sends me,” said Ciarvella. “I also attend the annual Willies Midnight Crazy Train camp in Lehighton.”

According to Ciarvella, drumming with others is an ancient practice and when facilitated well, becomes a safe space to be an individual while also being an important part of a group.

“We can re-discover the truth our ancestors knew so well: the transformative power of group support, engagement and connection,” he said. “And it’s just plain fun.”

Ciarvella said the program he uses was developed as part of a research study conducted by St. Francis University’s Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Underserved Areas.

Here is my interview with Ciarvella.

Coal Cracker: What were your main challenges in the beginning?

Joe Ciarvella: The main challenge from the beginning wasn’t studying the course work. After I had become a certified drum circle facilitator I needed to implement what I had learned. To do that, I needed to purchase the necessary drumming equipment. Le djembes, congas, doumbek, etc. Educational and therapeutic drums cost a lot of money.

So, my goal, at that time was to start a business from nothing and build it from the ground up, without being in debt. Key words here are “without being in debt.”  So, I buckled down and purchased a few djembes at a time. A conga here, a bongo there and built up to what I have now. The current goal is always to procure more drums!!!  …so more people can reap the benefits of drumming in groups.

CC:  How have they changed over time?

JC: That has changed over time because; I am on a constant quest to acquire the necessary gear to accommodate larger groups. Although, the best size group is about 12-15 people, maybe 20 if people use auxiliary percussion. I’d like to be able to accommodate groups of 30 or more.

CC: When did you start drumming?

JC: My family tells me I’ve been playing rhythms since before I could walk. My grandfather, mother and father all played music. So, when my parents’ band toured 5 star hotels and conventions centers, in the mid 1970’s I went along with them. Sometimes, I performed a drum solo before the band came out. Everybody, including the talent buyers, loved it. I even have one of my tuxedos from those days!  It’s powder blue. That was 1977-1979 at which time I had the culture shock of having to go to kindergarten, after touring and performing all over the country and Canada

CC: Who is one of your influences?

JC: Influences change over time. As I grow, my influences reflect what I’m doing at the moment. But, what I’d call the most paradigm shifting influence on what I’m doing now, is from Mickey Hart, drummer for the Grateful Dead. (Not necessarily for his playing or technique.) What I learned from the Grateful Dead is that there is a spirit side to the music and not just a technical side.

CC: What makes a good session?

JC: A good session is, when everybody has fun and reaches beyond what they thought possible!”