Warrior and Chillicothe VA Join Forces for the ‘Veterans Drum From Home’ Program

Art Therapy has recently seen a surge of interest throughout the health-care community. At it’s core we’re reminded of what we already knew: Expressing yourself through art makes you feel better and helps you release emotions that you might struggle with otherwise. 

Warrior Beat and the Chillicothe Veterans Affair Medical Center (VMCA) have teamed up to create an art therapy program that centers around facilitated group drumming. Included as part of the Whole Health initiative, group drumming allows veterans suffering from PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and other mental and physical disabilities, to find a release for their emotion and physical challenges. 

Therapeutic drumming is bolstered by a multitude of scientific studies that focus on things such as reintegration, entrainment, alleviation from symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other physical therapy benefits as well.

The Veterans Drum From Home program is an online, live streamed, program that allows veterans to participate from the comfort of their homes. This approach is beneficial twofold: It’s been effective during the ongoing pandemic as well as allowing veterans who are unable to leave the confines of their home for any other reason a chance to participate. 

If you are a health-care provider interested in this program please contact us at info@warriorbeat.org for more information.

Warrior Beat featured on ABC 5 News

CANTON, Ohio — Inside Warrior Beat’s Wellness Center in North Canton, there’s veterans of all different backgrounds.

“We have Vietnam veterans, Afghanistan, Iraq,” said Trevor Meyer, the co-founder of Warrior Beat.

But despite their differences, it’s clear, they have all faced similar struggles when they left the military and entered back into fast-paced life after service.

Ashley Priest spent time in the Ohio Army National Guard.

“I didn’t really realize it at first. I just was kind of going through the motions, but it took some time for me to really realize the effects of being in the military,” she said. “I was just kind of thrown back into real life again. I had to go back to work and go back to school and take care of my kids.”

For Terry Blackburn, a Vietnam vet who was wounded in combat, it was a similar issue.

“Once your back, you’re just thrown into everything again,” he said. “When I got out of Vietnam, it was not a very popular war, not a lot of things going on for veterans at that time.”

It’s common for vets to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, substance abuse issues, feelings of loneliness and isolation. For Meyer, who spent time as a U.S. Navy corpsman, he used drumming to cope with those issues and the idea of “Warrior Beat” was born.

“Seeing the way drumming can transform somebody’s life, their well-being. It’s huge for me,” he said.

Warrior Beat is a nonprofit dedicated to group drumming and meditation for veterans. Studies show that drumming can increase happiness, pain tolerance and relationship skills. It can also decrease the effects of PTSD.

Priest credits it for helping her cope.

“It’s been an important part of my life for the past year. I pretty much come every week to the drum circles,” she said.

Blackburn, who has been a drummer his whole life, knows all too well how much drumming can help anyone who is struggling.

“There’s a lot of therapy that comes with that being able to express yourself,” he said.

Meyer said the meditation that he leads the group in after every session, is a big part of the healing process.

“Being able to come together and sit in silence and focus on our breathing is huge if you’re struggling with PTSD, substance abuse issues… calming yourself and finding that tranquil space can be very difficult,” said Meyer.

The group meets every Thursday in Canton but is expanding to the Cleveland VA Center in February.

It also offers live streams of the sessions online for vets who are homebound or don’t feel comfortable coming out to the workshop. Those vets get a drum delivered to their homes.

If you’d like to donate to the group head to Warriorbeat.org

Warrior Beat and Elec Simon put on a Show for First Friday in Canton, Ohio.

Elec Simon, (STOMP, Cleveland Cavalier’s Q’Stix, Pieces of a Dream), and Warrior Beat, a non-profit that provides professionally facilitated drum circles to military veterans struggling with PTSD, Anxiety, Stress and Depression, were live in downtown Canton, Ohio for First Friday. Elec Simon, a world renown percussionist, lead a clinic of rhythmic proportions in front of hundreds from within the Warrior Beat Rhythm and Wellness Center located at 318 Cherry Street.

Warrior Beat at PASIC: Updated

We’re at PASIC, and guess what? It’s amazing! We’ve only been here for a day and we’ve had a chance to meet so many people who have both shared their experiences and are interested in sharing ours. We look forward to working with many of the folks, for whom we’ve had the pleasure to chat with, far into the future and to build some amazing friendships.

If you are here at PASIC and would like to talk to us about how drumming and it’s positive effects on mental and physical health, come find us!

3:00pm – we just had the pleasure of meeting with Peter Erskine! Peter, as you may know, is an amazing drummer with an impressive history of playing in some of the world’s greatest bands, including Weather Report. We’re on cloud nine! Thank you, Peter!

North Neighbor News: Warrior Beat helps combat veterans find peace through drumming

NORTH CANTON Music has been proven to have calming and even healing effects on listeners and those who play. A newly formed non-profit organization called Warrior Beat has been putting that theory to work by helping veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) play hand drums as a therapeutic activity.

PTSD suffers can experience a variety of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, anger, rage, substance abuse issues, feelings of worthiness or feelings of isolation. CEO and co-founder Trevor Meyer said the members of Warrior Beat get together and play drums to calm the effects of some of their symptoms. Meyer said there is research showing that playing drums can have immense therapeutic benefits.

His organization was showcased during a Drumming with Heroes event at the North Canton Public Library on Oct. 19.

Read the full article here: http://www.northneighbornews.com/news/20171025/warrior-beat-helps-combat-veterans-find-peace-through-drumming

Drumming with Heart – WWII Veteran Honored

Warrior Beat, a drum therapy program for military veterans, recently honored World War II pilot Robert Withee, of Jackson Township, with a special gift: A drum emblazoned with the image of the P-51 Mustang plane he flew in the Pacific Theater.

JACKSON TWP. Robert Withee eyed the drum from behind spectacles and from under the brim of a cap that designated him as a World War II veteran.

Clutching a single drumstick, the 96-year-old former war pilot softly pounded the head in a steady rhythm, giving voice to the instrument. Around him were other military veterans and residents of Heritage Villas, each group member slapping or hammering an assortment of drums under the impassioned direction of Trevor Meyer, co-founder and CEO of the Stark County-based Warrior Beat. A giant wave of percussion engulfed the room.

Read the full article here: http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20170905/drumming-with-heart-wwii-veteran-honored 

What a week!

12790841_573246636172177_5422756950044927773_nThe Village Music Circle 6 Day Intensive with Arthur Hull has been a life changing experience and will shape the Warrior Beat mission as we bring the healing and restorative power of rhythm to veterans across the country and abroad.