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Discuss the concept of Strength-Based Practice and Positive Psychology. Helping people focus on their strengths and other people’s strengths improves self-esteem and improves relationships. This helps give some balance back to those who are overly self-critical and provides a platform of achievement for future growth. Those who are more aware of and better at utilising their strengths are markedly happier and more successful. Focusing on others’ strengths enable our relationships to be at their best.
There are six groups of strengths: 1. Wisdom & Knowledge: creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective 2. Courage: bravery, persistence, integrity, zest 3. Love & Humanity: love, kindness, social intelligence 4. Justice: citizenship, fairness, leadership 5. Temperance: forgiveness and mercy, humility, prudence, self-control 6. Spirituality and Transcendence: appreciation of beauty & excellence, gratitude, hope,
FIND YOUR STRENGTHS
Ask people to look at a list of strengths (or use strength cards) and pick one area of strength - something they recognise in themselves, that they are good at, (if possible, convert to a one-word phrase). If it’s not on the chart, or card, they can identify something for themselves.
Play a foundation rhythm of your choice and teach the group how to count down to a break of B - B - BB – - (4,3,2,1, B-B-BB-). There is a one-count rest after the final Bass note before the rhythm resumes.
One at a time have each participant count down the rhythm and in this final gap they shout out their signature strength, before the group resume the foundation rhythm.
Finish with everyone counting down and yelling the word ‘Strengths’ in unison.
Discuss: What brings you to life? • What energises you? • What do you do that comes most easily to you? • On what do other people compliment you? • What is the very best in you? • When do you feel most you? In answering these questions, encourage people to reflect upon some specific, real-life situations where they have utilised one or more of the strengths listed.
These are universal patterns that can be used to build confidence. Useful starting rhythms
for improvisation, and as underlying rhythms for many of the R2R exercises.
Reinforce the link across all parts to the Bass note – holding the rhythm together – a
key analogy within the model. Each part is anchored by the Double Bass of the Heartbeat.
Note: Part 6 – you can do a range of different clapping combinations anchored to the
heartbeat
Note: Part 7 – You can do a range of different scratching or rubbing sounds anchored to the
heartbeat
Note: Part 8 – You can do a range of different vocalisations anchored to the heartbeat. Try
using vocal humour to reduce self-consciousness when it comes to using voice, start with
Yawns or Humming or by dividing the group in two with one side - BB “yeah” answered by
the other BB “Naah” or BB “Wicked” answered by BB “Whatever”. Note: singing or
humming is good for improving Vagal Tone and regulation.
Go through each part in succession. Then come back to just the heartbeat (part 1) and have
people layer in, one at a time, with any accent they like, as long as it is anchored to the
heartbeat.
You can cut the group in half (sculpt) and ask one half to keep playing then stop the other
and have them just play the double Bass heartbeat and then reverse roles. Other facilitation
skills can be applied when the group is playing together – volume changes, tempo changes
etc.
Count in the silence to assist those who struggle with timing.
Finish with a 'Fade to nothing'; the group gradually decreasing volume until the sound
disappears
These foundation rhythms all stress a strong Bass on the first note of every bar (be careful
not to over-emphasise musical notation). This helps participants locate the pulse and timing
of a 4/4 rhythm.
In Rhythm2Recovery a key analogy is around having a stable Base (linked to the Bass note) in
your life and how that connects to values, healthy relationships and belonging.
It is important to provide participants with rhythms they can master quickly in order to build
confidence and maintain engagement. Note the importance of aligning the rhythms to the
developmental capacity of the individual or group mean.
Play one handed first & then showcase two handed options – slowly and without challenging
people’s confidence. Draw attention to the common time signature 4/4 - practice individually
& then perhaps combine the three foundations into a three-part harmony.
The R2R resource package (including the online videos) features a number of different drum
songs designed to allow participants to gradually increase their rhythmic competence on the
drum. These rhythm songs can be found in the appendix of this workbook and can be
viewed on the training videos of the R2R web site. In many sessions, the facilitator combines
rhythmic song practice with exercises that address specific S&E learning issues. More
examples can be found in the book ‘Rhythm to Recovery’, and in our online videos.
Notation – Capital letters refer to an individual’s strong hand; lower case to their non-dominant
hand: B = Bass note, O = Tone note, Fl = Flam notes.
Binary Beats – playing these rhythms across the midline and with both hands
simultaneously is a great exercise for improving cognition, & activating the
parasympathetic restoration cycle.
In R2R we use three basic sounds:
Bass (B) - important for the whole hand to hit the drum in the centre of the skin. This is the
key note for connection and grounding – it is important to practice this until a deep resonant
note is obtained.
Tone (O) - important to use the whole length of the fingers, held close together, and avoid
the thumb hitting the edge.
Flam (Fl) - two strikes played almost simultaneously (Slaps or Tones).
In R2R we tend to use the Flam instead of the Slap as our accent note as it is easier to
master and sharp sounds are not therapeutic.
Recommend removing rings and bangles before playing
Emphasise a relaxed hand and bouncing off the drums though the skin was hot.
Demonstrate the three different strikes and put into a rhythm - B O B O, B O B Fl
Part three of the Online Rhythm2Recovery Facilitator Training Series
The first part of a three part training series for facilitators enrolled in the Rhythm2Recovery Online Training and Resource Package.