About RhythmRise
What We Do
RhythmRise helps make drum circles accessible. We support under-resourced public schools and community centers whose students may face socio-economic adversity and related trauma.
We provide the tools so teachers can establish & maintain their own drum circles. This includes authoring a curriculum supplement educational guide, donating homemade and purchased drums, and making onsite visits to lead drum circles.
OUR IMPACT
To date, we have donated over 500 of our handmade drums, and 30 purchased drums, enjoyed by thousands of students across schools & community centers in 9 US states + DC! Our immediate goal is to serve up to 10,000 students by the end of 2025.
This is all easily scalable and sustainable for years to come! We're expanding our RhythmRise volunteer team to teenage musicians across the country, including fellow School of Rock students through nationwide partnerships with local franchisees.
Therapeutic Benefits of Drum Circles
Participating in drum circles can provide immediate and lasting therapeutic benefits - such as increased emotional regulation, focus & social connectedness; and decreased stress, anxiety levels & depression symptoms.
How? Rhythmic drumming triggers endorphin release, engaging the brain’s reward & stress-regulation centers. This helps promote a healthier balance in the nervous system & supports improved emotional resilience. Plus, drumming is simply FUN!
Our journey
1. LEADING DRUM CIRCLES
3. DONATING OUR OWN HANDMADE DRUMS TO SCHOOLS
2. DONATING PURCHASED DRUMS TO SCHOOLS
Experiencing the joy and calm of drum circles in our local community center, and learning about music therapy, led us to start RhythmRise.
2. DONATING PURCHASED DRUMS TO SCHOOLS
3. DONATING OUR OWN HANDMADE DRUMS TO SCHOOLS
2. DONATING PURCHASED DRUMS TO SCHOOLS
Drum circles can't happen without drums! So we purchased new drums for use by up to 500 elementary school students.
3. DONATING OUR OWN HANDMADE DRUMS TO SCHOOLS
3. DONATING OUR OWN HANDMADE DRUMS TO SCHOOLS
4. CREATING A CURRICULUM sUPPLeMENT, IMPLEMENTED ACROSS SCHOOLS
We realized we could reduce costs by 75% by making our own drums! It's much more sustainable and scalable, and allows us to provide many more students with many more drums.
4. CREATING A CURRICULUM sUPPLeMENT, IMPLEMENTED ACROSS SCHOOLS
4. CREATING A CURRICULUM sUPPLeMENT, IMPLEMENTED ACROSS SCHOOLS
4. CREATING A CURRICULUM sUPPLeMENT, IMPLEMENTED ACROSS SCHOOLS
We created a free, comprehensive guidebook to help support instructors in leading drum circles. Our instructional tools are in use across our partner schools.
5. CREATING A HOW-TO-MAKE-DRUMS GUIDEBOOK
4. CREATING A CURRICULUM sUPPLeMENT, IMPLEMENTED ACROSS SCHOOLS
5. CREATING A HOW-TO-MAKE-DRUMS GUIDEBOOK
The more drums being made, the more students benefit. So we created an extensive guidebook showing how fun & easy it is for anyone to get involved and make drums!
6. IMPROVING OUR PRODUCT
4. CREATING A CURRICULUM sUPPLeMENT, IMPLEMENTED ACROSS SCHOOLS
5. CREATING A HOW-TO-MAKE-DRUMS GUIDEBOOK
We've come a long way since our first model of drums! Trial and error, feedback, and fresh ideas allow us to get smarter and craftier with our drum-making. With so many enthusiastic hands banging away, our drums need to be not just adorable, but durable, too.
7. VISITING OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS
9. SCALING UP FOR THE LONG TERM!
7. VISITING OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS
Selfishly, this is our absolute, most favorite part. Sometimes when delivering drums, we get to hand them out inside a classroom, and lead students in a drum circle. Their joy as they play is really the best feeling for us!
8. ENGAGING COMMUNITY SUPPORT
9. SCALING UP FOR THE LONG TERM!
7. VISITING OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS
Facilitating community service drum-making events and donation drives not only helps with inventory, but also brings people together in fun and meaningful ways!
9. SCALING UP FOR THE LONG TERM!
9. SCALING UP FOR THE LONG TERM!
9. SCALING UP FOR THE LONG TERM!
We are expanding along the east coast, and beyond! Regionally, through collaborating with volunteers who focus on their geographic areas. And nationally, through partnerships with School of Rock franchisees and their music students. We feel really good knowing that Rhythm Rise will keep on drumming!