RhythmWorks! for women

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social conditioning: Be pretty and be quiet. Sit still. Don’t draw attention to yourself or make noise. The spoken and unspoken messages to girls in our culture can take root at the deepest levels of our psyche. Even grown women who have discarded these messages at a cognitive level may still subconsciously obey the commands of their childhood.

the power of the arts: Judith Hizer knows how the arts, including learning to drum, can help women to find their voice, their confidence, and break unhealthy gender role conditioning to live life more fully.

With a strong history of work in the anti-violence movement in women’s shelters and a rape crisis center, Judith knows firsthand the capacity of the arts for empowering women. Judith has taught poetry and essay writing, creative movement, shirt painting, and drumming to women. Through creativity workshops, specific art projects, one on one instruction, and group work, Judith has helped women express themselves since 1991.

empowerment through rhythm: The favorite toy in Judith’s art kit is drumming. Drumming allows women to express themselves at a deeper level of consciousness. It is a powerful tool for helping women break negative social conditioning and learn to “make noise.” Finding their drumming “voice” is a strong allegory. Judith says,

“Women are often apprehensive about drumming. Many newcomers are quite tentative on the drum, barely audible with their rhythms. As they gain skill and confidence with their drumming, you can often see that confidence bubbling over into other areas of their lives.”

Drumming is also intrinsically a community activity. One drum alone is only fun for so long. But when drum voices are blended to make music, there is a level of group bonding that transcends individual differences.

“When women tap into the power of community drumming, they can find a place of sisterhood. I've known groups of women who never would have come together under other circumstances, and watched strong friendships form. In my own personal group of drumming sisters, we have a long-term community six years strong, and growing. We come together not only to drum, but to celebrate one another’s achievements and support one another in times of need. Whoever said ‘sisterhood is powerful,’ was right on.”

Judith can facilitate drumming for your women’s group, or offer consultation for groups outside of the Michiana region. For more information about drum workshops and drum circles for women, contact Judith Hizer at rhythmworks@sbcglobal.net or (574) 233-3267.