Nov 11, 2009 2:35 pm US/Pacific
Hermosa Beach Group Beating Challenges With Drums
Julie Sharp
HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. (CBS) ―
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Free to Be Me Drum Circle, a nonprofit organization founded by Hermosa Beach resident Sabina Sandoval, helps adults with mental and physical disabilities find their beat.
CBS
Rhythms from bongos, drums, tambourines and everything else that shakes and rattles emanated from the Hermosa Beach Community Center lawn Friday afternoon.
The nonprofit, all volunteer Free to Be Me Drum Circle, founded and operated by Hermosa Beach resident Sabina Sandoval, got a group of physically and mentally challenged adults together to share the beauty of the beat.
Much like a conductor of an orchestra, Sandoval led the group of about 50 people to varying rhythms and even had some time for guitar music. She said she sees herself more like a coach rather than a conductor because she strives to bring out the best from every drum circle participant and keeps the energy level up.
Free to be Me has enough drums and percussion equipment for about 400 people. Every other month, Sandoval brings out a portion of the drum arsenal to the Community Center for the challenged adults who partake in both the Easter Seals day program and the Arc South Bay program at the center.
Patty Kingery, program coordinator for the Easter Seals day program said that about 55 people with various disabilities come to the center in Hermosa Beach daily, and they are kept busy.
She said they volunteer in the community doing work that ranges from janitorial jobs to gardening type chores and even paperwork. They also get to drum.
The Free to be Me Drum Circle also meets every third Sunday of the month on the sand at the Hermosa Beach Pier and everyone is welcome to attend and bang a drum.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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