Village Music Circles™
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Village Music Circles™ impactful and exciting learning experiences are for anyone seeking to use music as a joyful tool to empower and unite people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures. Join the fun and learn how you can . . .
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What will you learn?
The focus of the Village Music Circles Basic Drum Circle Facilitator’s Training is to educate our community on drum circle fundamentals. Filled with hands-on activities, the Basic Facilitator’s Training is perfect for any drum circle facilitator, from entry-level to experienced. This training is designed to meet the needs of school teachers, music educators, music therapists, children ‘at risk’ counsellors, special needs providers, percussion instructors, musicians and recreational drummers and drum facilitators. With the completion of this program, participants are empowered to continue to develop and facilitate their own rhythm-based events serving a diverse multitude of people.
Throughout this journey, you'll discover the transformative power of rhythm as a universal language that transcends boundaries of age, background, and experience. Together, we'll explore techniques for building rapport, leading rhythmic exercises, and navigating group dynamics to ensure that every participant feels valued and heard.
So, grab your drum and join us on this rhythmic adventure as we embark on a journey of connection, harmony, and joy in the heart of the community drum circle.
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​Facilitators' Intensive Training
(3-day)
Basic Facilitation Skills
Drum Call • Stop Cuts • Sculpting
A weekend packed with training and hands-on facilitation experiences. Designed to give participants the confidence, tools and inspiration necessary to facilitate a rhythm-based event and build their own rhythm community.
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Facilitators' Intensive Training
(6-day)
Intermediate Rhythm Facilitation Skills
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Techniques • Technologies • Philosophies
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This week-long training provides extensive practical experience in a safe environment to facilitators of all levels with peer, mentor & advanced facilitator support.
Mentors' Experience (10-day)
Advanced Leadership Training
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Leadership • Advanced Facilitation • Community Mentoring
A 10-day leadership training for community facilitators ready to mentor others through rhythm facilitation and community-building processes. Learn advanced community-building techniques and group process skills while leading and mentoring Week-long participants through basic facilitation processes.
Village Music Circles Founder
Arthur Hull
Founder,
Village Music Circles
Arthur Hull is a pioneer in using rhythm as a powerful tool for education, healing, and community building. Raised in a service-oriented tradition, Arthur has dedicated his life to helping people experience the joy and transformation that rhythm can bring. As the founder of Village Music Circles, he created the internationally recognized profession of the Drum Circle Facilitator, sparking a worldwide movement that integrates music, wellness, and connection.
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Arthur’s rhythm-based programs are used in businesses, schools, hospitals, therapeutic settings, wellness retreats, and community programs worldwide. His innovative method encourages social-emotional learning, stress relief, and group bonding, making his work especially meaningful in educational and healing environments.
In corporate and organizational environments, Arthur’s rhythm events deliver engaging, interactive experiences that promote teamwork, improve communication, and lift morale. Companies utilize his techniques to break down barriers, spark creativity, and build a culture of collaboration and engagement—all through the power of rhythm.
Through his books, music, and highly experiential trainings, Arthur has empowered thousands to incorporate rhythm into their own lives and work.
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Arthur has certified 30 Global Facilitators who deliver his trainings in communities around the world, continuing his mission of accessible, inclusive, rhythm-based engagement.
UK Global Trainers
Dr Jane Bentley
Global Trainer
Village Music Circles
Jane is a drummer, facilitator, consultant and trainer, specialising in music in communication, health and wellbeing settings. She believes that everyone can make music – piloting musical social innovation projects as diverse as: exploring musical communication skills with corporate trainers through the medium of paper; making music with prisoners and their children to encourage family bonding; sharing the delights of improvisation with orchestral musicians who want to play in hospitals; creating a spontaneous bicycle orchestra for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2018 European Championships; investigating the potential for rhythm in aiding language learning, and articulating the potential of music in the lives of people with dementia.
She has been a student of Arthur Hull’s Village Music Circles since 1999 and is now recognized as an international trainer in drum circle facilitation. She deepened her studies by completing a PhD based on drum circles and improvisation, highlighting the effects of group music making on human wellbeing – the first time that the practice of drum circle facilitation has been studied at this level.
Ray Watters
Global Trainer
Village Music Circles
Ray has a passion for drumming, working with people and building communities. He is a drummer, drum circle facilitator, humanistic counsellor, trainer and the founder of Drum with Us. Ray presents and teaches workshops throughout Europe, UK and the rest of the world to a wide spectrum of audiences, from the NHS, teachers and businessman to schools, mental health charities, Nuero-Diverse audiences, at risk populations and exceptional people with additional needs. He is a firm believer in the power of rhythm to build community and connection, to address the diverse issues we face as individuals and as a people. The power of rhythm to cross divides, build bridges and encourage communication in communities around the world.
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He first attended a VMC facilitators training in 2008, which was a life changing experience and the rest is history. It brought about a complete change in direction. He has attended trainings every year since, here in the UK, but also in Spain, Malaysia and Germany. Now along with the fabulous Dr. Jane Bentley he will leading fabulous UK Playshop training events.
