Portrait: Christine Stevens
In the portrait: Christine Stevens
Music therapist, author, speaker / USA
When did music spark your interest and when did you start drumming?
At first I thought I had no sense of rhythm at all. I almost failed my percussion class in college. But then a drum circle changed my life. I learned to play congas and improvise freely.
How would you describe your personal philosophy regarding drums and their magic?
For me, drums represent a portal to musical expression. Their ease of use, spiritual depth and history, as well as scientifically proven healing properties, make them an instrument of transformation, healing, devotion, and fun.
When did you get to know the Sansula?
This was during a national conference for music therapists. I tried it out and bought two copies.
How do you use the Sansula and what possibilities arise from using the instrument? What effect does the Sansula have on your students and listeners?
I use the Sansula in my health drumming groups, where we practice healing rhythm with all kinds of participants. These can be seniors, cancer patients or even companies. The sound of the Sansula always has a calming and mystical effect.
Do you think the Sansula could be considered a “serious” instrument?
But of course!
Biographical information on the career
It is said that Christine Stevens does not just teach drumming, but that her classes are a mixture of magic, fun and holistic healing processes. Christine Stevens has master's degrees in two areas: social work and music therapy. She works with people from all over the world in the form of drum and percussion circles, introducing them to the magical world of rhythm. She is the founder of UpBeat Drum Circles and has often been a guest on TV shows on prestigious US networks such as NBC, PBS and KTLA. In addition, she worked as a narrator on the DVD project "Discover the Gift" and is the author of "Music Medicine", "The Healing Drum Kit" and "The Art and Heart of Drum Circles". In her career, she has taught and coached trainers from more than twenty-five countries in the HealthRythm program, in the evidence-based REMO group. Christine has worked with many Fortune 500 companies, as well as with survivors of Hurricane Katrina, students at Ground Zero, and recently led her first percussion circle in a war zone in Northern Iraq.
Interview: Annalena Horl