The Masterpiece Living Lyceum sets the bar for adult learning environments and “walks the talk” by imparting knowledge and discussion with strong doses of fun. The Masterpiece Living event team has a flare for finding innovative conference sessions. This year’s Lyceum participants were both the performers and the audience.

Jana Broder, founder and owner of Drum Magic, addressed the group from the center of the circle and shared Drum Magic’s evolution from her early “gigs” in the senior communities. Jana’s innovative facilitation to the senior communities taught her that this population is profoundly affected by drumming. At any age, drumming releases limitations and inhibitions – awakening the hidden universal rhythm within.

Jana exuded a contagious joy and love for her art as she demonstrated sounds in bite size pieces that can be learned by any first time drummer. Each person mirrored his/her beats on an African drum called a “djembe” which is covered with goat skin and designed for hand drumming.

Jana encouraged her drum circle performers to “listen” and “turn your brain off.” She led the group by saying, “My turn, your turn,” making it very easy for everyone to learn the base, rim and slap beats. Jana’s mastery, patience, and humor accommodate all learning styles.

Participants beamed with joy as they heard the powerful expression of their own music. The Djembe’s various tones can be very loud or very quiet – the drummer is the artist. Each drummer’s beating, slapping, and striking contributed to the unified sound that resonated in the room. Jana overlaid African songs and drum solos to the multi-dimensional harmonic drumming.

Exuberant participants spontaneously joined Jana in the center of the circle to dance. Jana led a round – one side of the room played their beat pattern, and the second side of the room came in on her queue. Jana enthusiastically conducted the interplay of soft and loud drumming.

In recent years, the ancient custom of drumming circles has gained increased popularity. Drumming is a creative experience that engages groups to work together as well as being physically and intellectually stimulating. As a result of the Lyceum experience, three communities are now integrating drum circles into their programming.

Relaxing into the music allows the body to hear and feel the rhythm and the vibration of sound allowing the stress and tension of the day to melt away. The Masterpiece Living Lyceum “walks the talk.” Performer/audience comes together as one.

Hi Jana,

I hope this note finds you and your family looking forward to a holiday season filled with much comfort and quality of life. 

Most importantly, on behalf of the 100+ magnificent animals who call Big Cat Rescue home, I wanted to personally thank you for helping to make the 2009 Fur Ball a roaring success!

The final numbers are in.  Thanks to your generous donation to, and participation in our annual gala, we raised approximately $90,000!

I thought you might enjoy viewing some of the podcasts and photos of the evening’s festivities at:  www.bigcatrescue.org/FurBall.htm

It is only by working “hand in hand” with like-minded friends such as you that Big Cat Rescue can continue to make a positive difference in the lives of the sanctuary’s animals as well as those around the world.

With appreciation for all that you have and continue to do for the animals,

Jeff

Jeff Kremer
Director of Donor Appreciation
Big Cat Rescue

We were so fortunate to have Jana Broder and her truck load of Djmbes make their way to our Faces of  Courage women survivors Cancer Camp last week!

Over sixty women, laughed, danced and drummed away their cares under the careful tutelage of Tampa's premier drumming teacher Jana Broder.  Jana had them really cracking up with her quick wit and high energy banter.  The women were literally beat when they were done from all the fun...pardon the pun.

Mary Geraci
Volunteer
Faces of Courage

Hi there,

I would highly recommend Drum Magic for your event.  We have a team of 20 and they all loved it!  Even the ones I thought my not want to participate, loved it!  So, I am happy to say it helped our team and if we can afford to do it, we will have Jana come back next year for the same team building event!  She is excellent with everyone and gets everyone involved. 

Two thumbs up – Way up from 20/20 drama team at Victorious Life church…

We loved every minute and can’t wait to do it again!!

Warm regards,

Darci D'Onofrio
Executive Director
Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Assoc.
Brandon, Florida

Jana,
Thank you for traveling to drum with the staff of Thacker Avenue Elementary School for International Studies as part of our pre-planning.  They feel so grateful and energized and have been raving about what a wonderful experience it was to have our first activity as a new "family" be so unique and creative.  One teacher said it was the best pre-planning she has had in 30 years.  You always have a way of bringing people together through the use of the drums.  We had a memorable experience and as a result many of the teachers have encouraged me to have you come and drum with our students this year.  We are looking forward to giving them the same gift you gave us.  With sincere gratitude,

Shana H. Rafalski, Principal
Thacker Avenue Elementary School for International Studies

Dear Jana,

We just want to let you know how much we have appreciated the 'Drum Magic' program this year at Hope. As you well know, the connection between music and cognitive function is well documented and we firmly believe your presentations have helped increase both the auditory processing and fine motor skills (eye-hand coordination) of our students. More importantly, it was accomplished in a way that was throughly enjoyable for them as you will see from the attached "testimonials" (written by our children).

We certainly hope this is just the beginning of our cooperative relationship with you and hope we will be able to access the program again next school year so that we can continue to build on the skills you have introduced to our students.

Again, thank you so much for 'Drum Magic.' It truly was a 'magical' experience for our students.

Sincerely,

Celeste Kellar
Director

Alexis Maxfield
Speech/Language Pathologist

Dear Jana,

As we are in the process of firming up our children’s camp arrangements with you, I realize that a thank you letter is long over due!  I wanted to write and express how much you, Drum Magic and your crew of wonderful drummers has meant to us over the past several years.

First let me say that you are the friendliest and most accommodating person we have worked with!  When I called you to ask you about coming to a hospice retreat event you were so enthusiastic and excited about what drums could do for our clients who were grieving.  After that first event with you in 2007 we were hooked!!

I could not have imagined the change in people (staff included) after they participated in the drum circle!  You energized tired bodies, warmed cold hands, gave people enthusiasm, but most of all you put smiles on peoples faces!  Watching people leave the event with uplifted spirits was priceless.  You all were the biggest hit of the event!

When we asked you to come to Camp Brave Heart, you were even more excited to work with grieving children!  How you could get more enthused we’ll never know, but you did! J

The drum circle at camp was the highlight of many.  When we spoke with parents of the children who had been to camp we heard over and over how “awesome” the drum circle was!  Drum Magic gave children a safe opportunity to express feelings, and was a constructive output for anger, and many other emotions.  We will not think of doing camp without you!  When you are part of our events we don’t worry about a thing; we know you are right there in sync with our program and what we are trying to accomplish!  The way you work with our staff and clients is amazing. This is true whether our event is for 50 or 200!

I want to thank you for what you do, for your never ending enthusiasm, professionalism, organizational skills, and for your wonderful crew – we love them all!  But most of all we want to thank you for what you give our clients!  A few gifts that come to mind are smiles, relief, and a sense that life can be fun again!  Looking forward to seeing you at Camp Brave Heart 2009! 

Thanks for being our friend and favorite “drum lady”!

Allyson Moskowitz
Bereavement Manager
The Bethany Center Good Shepherd Hospice

Drumming and Mental Health.

For more than a year now, Jana Broder has brought Drummagic to the consumers at Mental Health Care Inc.’s Social Rehabilitation Program.  This has offered the consumers the chance to interact together in a completely different way.  It has given consumers the chance to dance and express themselves. The energy created by Jana’s enthusiasm is contagious- a noisy, happy activity takes place transforming the cafeteria from a place of rest to an energetic, enlivening one. The consumers regularly ask me, “When is the drum lady coming?”

Elizabeth E Mitchell,  Expressive Arts Coordinator
MHC Inc. Adult Community Services Division
2313 W. Violet St. Tampa, FL 33603

Jana’s presence with her drum magic circle at Gulfport’s Springfest gave us a real ‘festival’ feel.  People of all ages joined in with lots of smiles to show for their efforts.

Lori Rosso, President
Gulfport Chamber of Commerce

Jana, sincere thanks to you and your team for supplying an unforgettable kick off to our business meeting. Our group was blown away by the concept and continues to talk about the energy and synergy that the drums created. I was particularly pleased with how you incorporated our business theme into the activity and supported our recognition segment with drumming applause. I look forward to our next opportunity to share the experience. Thanks again, Vic.

Victor Tenuto
Regional Sales Manager
CVS Pharmacy