Research, development and evaluation

Beat It Percussion ensures our projects are outstanding through evaluation and contributing to academic research.

As well as evaluation of our own projects we utilise the large body of academic research to give credibility to our work. A summary of some key research is outlined below and if you want to read further, we have included some links to articles that we find particularly relevant at the end of this page.

Evidence relating to group drumming

Perkins et al (2016) [i] (have explored the features of a programme of group drumming known to enable mental health recovery. The Results revealed three key features of the drumming intervention. The first is drumming as a form of non-verbal communication and connection with life through rhythm and as a grounding experience. the second feature is the group as a space of connection in and through the rhythmic features of the drumming, as well as facilitating feelings of belonging, acceptance, safety and care, and new social interactions. The third feature is learning, including learning as an inclusive activity in which there are no ‘mistakes’ and in which there is musical freedom, supported by the facilitator of the group.

Ascenso et all (2018)[ii] explored the promotion of well-being through group drumming with mental health service users and their carers. Emotional, psychological and social dimensions of well-being were evident for both patients and carers. Themes that emerged from the study were a positive affect and pleasant physical effects of drumming use of initiative and sense of control and a sense of accomplishment. Further themes were engagement through focus and flow and a focus on self, through self-awareness and social well-being, through connectedness and positive relationships.

The potential of group drumming to positively influence the well-being of participants is commonly cited through studies. Camilleri (2002)[iii] pointed to drumming as a tool for creating a sense of community in underprivileged neighbourhoods. In studies which have focussed on mental health settings, drumming has been shown to be an effective tool for psychosocial rehabilitation of psychiatric inpatients (Tague, 2012)[iv]. It has also been beneficial in reducing burnout for staff (Newman, Maggott, & Alexander, 2015)[v], and in alleviation of depression and anxiety while enhancing well-being and social resilience among those using mental health services (Fancourt et al., 2016)[vi].

The Benefits of Music for the Elderly

The benefits of music for the elderly in particular are very well known and have been the subject of numerous studies like the one conducted by Hanser and Thompson (1994) [vii]This study identified the following specific health benefits of music making for older adults:

Lowers blood pressure
Decreases heart rate
Reduces stress
Lessens anxiety and depression
Enhances immunological response, which enables us to fight viruses

Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative and progressive form of dementia which leads to damage and loss of connectivity between nerve cells. Because Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, over time more and more parts of the brain become damaged and the symptoms of the disease become more severe. The later stages of dementia can involve problems with:

Memory loss
Communication
Reasoning
Orientation

Whilst there is still no cure for dementia, there is evidence that playing an instrument can significantly lower the risk of contracting the disease in the first place. A study by Wan and Schlaug (2010) [viii] concluded that those over the age of 75 who frequently played a musical instrument were less likely to have developed dementia when compared to those who rarely played a musical instrument.

Evidence suggests that even when the Alzheimer’s disease progresses and the cognitive function of the brain begins to decline, the human brain still naturally responds to music and these benefits continue even after the music stops playing

Kumar and Tims (1999)[ix] identifies that music therapy with Alzheimer’s patients leads to increased levels of melatonin, serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine and prolactin. The study concluded that the increased levels of melatonin in particular may have contributed to the patients’ relaxed and calm mood.

[i] Perkins R., Ascenso S., Atkins L., Fancourt D., & Williamon A. (2016). Making music for mental health: How group drumming mediates recovery. Psychology of Well-Being: Theory, Research and Practice, 6 (11), 1–17.

[ii] Ascenso et al (2018) International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being Volume 13, 2018 - Issue 1

[iii] Camilleri V. (2002). Community building through drumming. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 29, 261–264.

[iv] Tague D. B. (2012). The effect of improvisational group drumming versus general music therapy versus activity therapy on mood, session behaviors and transfer behaviors of in-patient psychiatric individuals . Florida State University Electronic Thesis, Treatises and Dissertations, Paper 5220

[v] Newman, GF, Maggott, C, Alexander, DG (2015). Group drumming as a burnout prevention initiative among staff members at a child and adolescent mental health care facility. South African Journal of Psychology, 45, 439-451.

[vi] Fancourt D., Perkins R., Ascenso S., Carvalho L. A., Steptoe A., & Williamon A. (2016). Effects of group drumming interventions on anxiety, depression, social resilience and inflammatory immune response among mental health service users. Plos One https://doi.org/10.1371

[vii] Hamser S and Thompson L (1994) Effects of a Music Therapy Strategy on Depressed Older Adults. Journal of Gerontology: Pychologial Science 1994, Vol. 49, No. 6, P265-269

[viii] Wan, c and Schlaug, G (2010) Music Making as a Tool for Promoting Brain Plasticity across the Life Span Neuroscientist October 16 (5) 588-577

[ix] Kumar AM, Tims F et al (1999) ‘Music Therapy Increases Serum Melatonin Levels in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine Nov: 49-57.

https://www.acss.org.uk/mtc-11-dementia/person-centred-care-and-dementia-care-mapping/