Owner, Drum Magic & Editor, Drum Circle Magazine 

In 1998, after 20 years as a corporate caterer in Atlanta, Ga, Jana Broder sold her business, her house, and her belongings, and moved to Northern California. It was there that she was introduced to the drum. The impact of community drumming seemed to take over her dreams as she began her new, yet unknown, future. After learning technique and skills from some of the best teachers in hand drumming, she moved to Central Florida to begin her new passion; Drum Magic.

In 2002, Drum Magic became a reality as a business in the Tampa Bay area. Drum Magic was her passion and she would share that with anyone that would listen. She joined her local Chamber of Commerce where she quickly earned Ambassador of the Year followed shortly by the Small Business Administrations award of Small Business of the Year. Her leadership in the community also shows up at the Tampa Metro YMCA, where she was awarded Volunteer of the Year and has served on their advisory board.

Her recent endeavors include Drum Circle Magazine; a beautiful, quarterly, magazine that brings rhythm into everyday life. It is the goal of the magazine, as well as Jana’s, to bring recreational rhythm making into communities throughout the world. The magazine is a perfect match and Jana brings herself to the table as Editor.

When Jana is not drumming, you’ll find her at her church, the waters of Tampa Bay. She sails her little Compac Yacht, Moonshadow, as well as kayaks throughout the waterways of Tampa Bay.

Paul began playing congas at ten years old and has been exploring and sharing the world of rhythm ever since. He has studied with percussion masters in many different styles and has been facilitating community rhythm events for over ten years.

Paul has toured extensively in the U.S. and around the world and has adapted those experiences into a global community mentality. He is currently an educator and performance artist in Tallahassee, Florida where he teaches all ages and provides percussion for a variety of groups ranging from Latin to Country. Whether he is facilitating a group of ten or performing for thousands, he brings infectious energy and engagement to the event.

As an active boy, Pierre trained in martial arts since a young age. Then as an adult black belt, he taught classes for a number of years. However, music had always been an important aspect of his life. His study of dance began at age 11 in New York where he also discovered a love for African drums. He danced for the Apollo Theater and also studied dance while attending college.

After 25 years of banging on whatever he could, he began African djembe lessons with Jana in 2005. His love of drumming and dance quickly brought him to the center of the drum circle where he could share his enthusiasm with all.

Wayne has been a drummer for over 30 years. But after attending one of Drum Magic's events, he discovered a passion for African rythyms, Djembes and drum circles. He began working with Jana Broder as much as possible to hoan his skills as a Drum Circle Facilitator.

Wayne can be found playing drums with many musicians in the Tampa Bay area. In his spare time Wayne trains in Mixed Martial Arts at Chris Sutton's Martial Arts.

Jason has been playing music since childhood. Before focusing on hand drums he studied the piano, violin, and upright bass. When he was preparing for volunteer work in Zimbabwe 11 years ago he was first introduced to and overtaken by the djembe. It was in Africa where he was given the name Tawanda Moyo ne Matombo or “Tawa” for short.

Jason has been mentored in drum circle facilitation by Jana Broder (Drum Magic) and trained with Kalani (Drum Circle Music). Outside of percussion, Jason spent years in the traditional and online classroom teaching various social studies subjects. His classroom experience directly serves his drum circle participants and his desire to share the joy of music making provides an infectious environment of fun.

“Tawa” has worked with talented musicians and dancers from a variety of styles and traditions: African percussion masters, club DJs, rock and reggae bands. He has developed a style that blends with all styles while adding his ’special spice’.

Giving World Percussion’s philosophy on community music was formed in Africa while sitting on a tall stack of stones overlooking the valley, paths, shops, and dirt roads of Chakonda, a small township in Zimbabwe. You might be playing a musical instrument, toe tapping through your office, or guiding an oxcart; Everyday we are creating music. All it takes is a few moments with your ears open to the world around. Variations of tones, pitches, emotions, and paces make life sound interesting and enjoyable!

Website: www.givingworldpercussion.com

Dave is founder and primary performer and facilitator of all Beatin' Path programs and drum circles. Dave spreads the message of community, teamwork, diversity, and environmental awareness through rhythm based events. Dave leads regular drum circles at regional area schools, public housing communities, health fairs and festivals. Former clients include the Chattohoochee Valley Library's reading inititive program, Southeast Regional Hospice, Muscogee County School Administrators conference, Georgia's Early Childhood Educator's Conference, and the Southeast Regional Girl Scout Leadership convention. On stage, Dave is found in a number of musical settings, including world beat, jazz, orchestral and theatrical productions. Dave is the leading member of Ritmo Blu, a world percussion trio that performs at regional schools and festivals. Dave has traveled to Cuba, Africa, and Brazil to pursue his continuing education of the world's cultures and drumming traditions.

Dave has been a guest facilitator at the Percussive Arts Society's International Conference, the Georgia PAS Day of Percussion, is a graduate of the Village Music Circles Community Drum Facilitation Training, a Young Andiences, Woodruff Arts Center roster artist and a member of the Drum Circle Facilitator's Guild.

Website: www.beatinpathrhythmevents.com

Greg “Djembe G” Whitt combines a passion for percussion, formal studies in communication, and a background in leadership and service to offer rhythm events for team-building, education, and wellness.

Charles Barry Skeete was born in Queens, N.Y. and has been a music and percussion enthusiast since childhood. Barry has performed with the Fred Johnson Jazz Group at the Clearwater, FL Jazz Festival in 2000 & 2005, and opened for headliners such as Patti LaBelle, B.B. King, Boz Skaggs, Boney James and Rick Braun. As a duo, Barry and Fred provided the background music for readings by Deepak Chopra and Coleman Barks and have co-produced countless Sound Sculpture Improvisational Performances. Barry participated in the Art & Spirituality Festivals and Community Arts Ensemble held by the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and has provided percussion for many multi-national musical presentations. Barry completed Drum Circle Facilitator training with Arthur Hull/Village Music Circles™.

Barry is the owner of, “Drum With Me”  specializing in facilitating interactive drumming events at Nursing Centers, and Assisted Living Facilities, etc. Barry also hosts Fire and Drum Circles, and Drum Presentations for the City of Largo Parks and Recreation.

Barry is currently based in Largo, FL were he lives with his wife, Cathy, and a small flock of birds.

Christian Sun is a performing artist and educator in St. Augustine, Florida.  He has played djembe since he began Flagler College in “99.  His passion for culture and music has brought him to find the power rooted within the traditional sounds of West Africa and the Caribbean.  He studies extensively with masters of music from Guinea, Senegal, Kenya, and Jamaica. 

As founder of the The Vibe Hut, he imports professional drums and instruments from West Africa and offers tours to Guinea and Jamaica for cultural exchange and artist enhancement.  He is partnered with numerous West African artists working together on bridging the wisdom of African culture and music with our extended community.

While working as a Systems and Graphics Analyst from New Jersey, Mary was fortunate enough to be taken on as a protégé by a former Baba Olatunji student, playing the Shakere.  While playing with various Instructors and Musicians, it inspired her to travel internationally, pursuing music of different cultures.  While ‘percussion’ is her ‘passion’, she is attracted to all types of music.

Immediately after relocating to Florida, three years ago, she discovered Jana’s unique style of teaching and sharing ‘drumming’.  She’s been playing Shakere at Drum Magic’s venues, ever since.  Continuing to be a devotee of fine arts, including theater and dance, she continues to expand her musical skills with an assortment of instruments.  The Shakere still remains her favorite instrument

Amy Jackson is a native Atlantan and co-founder of Rhythm Synergy, who has been drumming since an early age.  Amy is passionate about drumming and her energy and enthusiasm is contagious.  Combined with her love of drumming and nursing career of 27 years, she facilitates not only drum circles geared towards health and wellness but also education, teambuilding, special needs, seniors, celebrations, graduations, and community drum circles.  Amy also teaches traditional West African music specifically designed for the beginner drummer.    

Amy’s mission is to share her love and passion for drumming/rhythm making with others, to help guide people from all walks of life to find their own inherent rhythms, to lessen stress, to have fun, and to help bridge gaps between cultures by teaching traditional West African music from Guinea.  

She has studied drum circle facilitating for health and wellness with the renowned Christine Stevens and neurologist Barry Bittman, M.D. of HealthRhythms, completed three workshops for drum circle facilitator training with renowned musician/facilitator, Kalani of DrumCircleMusic™ , and completed level I training with the father of drum circle facilitators and the drum circle movement, Arthur Hull Village MusicCircles ™. She has apprenticed with Jana Broder of DrumMagic™ and John Scalici of GetRhythm™.  She has been  a guest facilitation artist with Arthur Hull at drumStrong ™, and an invited guest facilitator with John Scalici, Jana Broder, and Dave Holland of Beatin' Path™ at other rhythm based events.
She perfoms with an all women’s percussion ensemble, ConunDrums, and a diverse group playing traditional West African music, Ten Blocks Away.

She has studied West African Music with master drummers Mamady Keita, founder of Tam Tam Mandingue, Famaoudou Konate, and Fode Camara all from Guinea, West Africa. She is currently a student studying traditional West African music with Bill Scheidt of Living Rhythms™, a professor of the international West African drumming school, Tam Tam Mandingue. She has studied the djembe with various renowned percussionists in the Atlanta area, Chuck Cogliandro, Aly Camara, Colleen Caffrey and Tom Harris. She is a member of the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild and the Percussive Arts Society.

Website: http://drummingatlanta.com/

Susan is passionate about sharing rhythm and drumming with people of all walks of life.  While exploring the field of drum circle facilitation she has mentored with Jana Broder (Drum Magic), John Scalici (Get Rhythm), Greg Whitt (Oak City Drums), and Matt Savage (Rhythm Alive).  She has also studied under Kalani (Drum Circle Music).

Her love of hand drumming intensified while learning traditional West African drumming from her Raleigh instructor, Ronnie Pulley (Drums on Fire and Rhythmicity performance group).  She soon after became a member of Rhythmicity and entered into a 2 year instructor training program with Bill Scheidt (Living Rhythms, Tam Tam Mandinque Winston Salem, NC) along with a small group of skilled and diverse hand drummers from around the region.   Bill is a professor of, and works closely with, Mamady Keita, world known master djembefola. 

Ronnie and Susan have since discovered the value and benefits of rhythm sharing and development in the community, and have facilitated interactive events for companies like United Way, Hospice, North Hills, INC. as well as fun community events, and for people in need.  Susan is a member of the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild and continues to develop ways to serve her community through beneficial and fun rhythm events.

Website: http://www.orbitalrhythms.com/