When I first began playing in drum circles, I would get the strangest looks from other players. Once in a while someone would get visibly angry with me. Yet I didn’t understand why. I would reason, ‘aren’t drum circles meant for everyone to share.’

It’s amazing how blind our own reason can make us. In time the advice of friends and teachers taught me that if another player looks at you with displeasure, it may mean you are playing to loud. In other words, those people were trying to tell me, “Chill – don’t play so loud.” If you see that look, pause - take a rhythmic break (stop playing) - & tune in to the volume of the circle.

Often new comers to drum circles play too soft, but there are some who tend to play too loud. Clearly, personality types are evident regarding the volume of new comers – the too soft player is generally meek, humble, respectful and willing to listen. The too loud player is typically, obnoxious, arrogant, self-centered and thinks that all the other players should listen to him. Well, trust someone who's experienced both approaches, when given the choice, it is much better to play too soft.

Even though soft is better than loud, and humble better than arrogant, too soft is not a perfect balance. Drum circles are for balancing every player's energy, skills and expressions. Each player has the challenge to balance their playing with all the other players. So if you’re the soft type, remember other players really do want to hear you. A quality drum circle player loves to share the volume and many rhythms.

The ideal volume in all music is not to soft and not too loud. This does not mean we should never play soft or never play loud, rather it means in any given musical moment don’t be too soft or too loud.

There is a season for everything, and this includes volume. Every good drum circle experiences a variety of volumes and intensities. One of the great joys of playing in a drum circle is riding the volume - changing & exchanging volume & intensity with other players. So, remember to always pay attention to the volume of the other players and respond in harmonizing ways.

Any beautiful and successful drum circle has volume control at is foundation. All players can be acutely a-tuned to the intensity and volume of all other players. Only when players are sensitive to each other’s intensity can they achieve spontaneity and improvise. And of course, spontaneity and improvisation are the essence of the drum circle. Therefore, volume control is critical. When the rule not too much and not too little is followed, the drum circle can ride the waves of rhythm and music.

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