Meet Eduardo Lis | Interactive Drum Circle facilitator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eduardo Lis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eduardo, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
My business of bringing an Interactive Drum Circle to events, summer camps and schools helps the community with a hands-on, participatory activity that is inclusive and brings people of all ages together.
I am thankful for the chances I have had to bring group drumming to diverse groups. I have done sessions for kids at different summer camps, and done groups of children and adults with disabilities. I have facilitated events for Jewish women at Rosh Codesh (new moon festival) and a “celebration of life” drum circle on the beach for a family to remember a relative who passed away. I believe something special happens when people get together to drum and express their thoughts and feelings freely. When people feel the power of rhythm through the groove of the drums a community of music makers is built!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started as a musician playing drums and classical percussion back in Argentina, where I was born. Then I moved to Canada, where I studied jazz and ethnomusicology and began playing in the genre of Latin-jazz and teaching music in schools. I moved to the US in 2006 and continued playing and teaching music. From my experience in the elementary music classroom and drumming I began to develop the concept of my business as an Interactive Drum Circle called “All Together Drum.” I received grants from the Broward Cultural Division and the Broward Education Foundation to continue and expand the drumming project and bring it to the libraries and community centers as well as present it at the Idea Expo workshops for teachers.
My unique approach to group drumming and body percussion centers on the idea of having fun and expressing feelings through rhythm and music. All participants get empowered and de-stress. No experience is necessary. Everyone is included and we all make group music. Bringing drums to an event requires effort and organization. I have learned to prepare and plan differently for indoor, outdoor, or even beach events.
I would like everyone to try an Interactive Drum Circle to play together, to express their feelings, to feel better and gain the health benefits or relaxing, boosting cognition and coordination and developing social interactions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love cycling in Weston. The town has lots of bike lanes and there are many parks and beautiful vegetation and sights.
When I get a visitor I always take them to the Everglades Parks where you can go on airboats and see alligators and other fauna.
As far as food, South Florida has so much to choose from! Of course Cuban coffee and food is great, but there are also many Argentinian and Peruvian restaurants that are great. For affordable bites out Graziano’s market is my favorite.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I started bringing group drumming to events, my main inspiration for facilitation ideas was Kalani Das. He is an educator, percussionist and author. Other facilitators like Arthur Hull and John Boone have also been an influence.
I also want to thank Luisa Ximena, whose Art Camp was the first summer camp that hired me for weekly interactive drum sessions in a park.
I would like say that “my students are my mentors.” I learn from my students at school in class and in our drum group after school. I learn from students at summer camps who drum even after being out in the sun and tired. I learn from adult participants who share their life stories in our “drum trip” back memory lane and who tell me how their back pain is gone, or they just feel better and move better after a drumming session.

Website: https://www.alltogetherdrumcircle.com

Instagram: #alltogetherdrumcircle

Facebook: @alltogetherdrum

Youtube: @mrlismusic