On August 10, an innovative educational event – «The Drum Power Ukraine 2.0» Summer School – began at the National University of Ostroh Academy, with financial support from the Andreas Tobias Kind Foundation (Germany).
The programme takes the form of a five-day, 40-hour practical intensive course for 45 participants. The training involves full immersion in the Drum Power method, seamlessly combining short theoretical sessions with practical exercises, group work and daily reflection. Participants will be guided by a team of certified music therapists and Drum Power trainers.
The practical component centres on playing the djembe, metallophones and other percussion instruments, as well as body-oriented exercises and musical role-play activities. The process is structured around the principle of gradual progression: from familiarising oneself with basic rhythms and becoming aware of one’s own bodily reactions, to using music for emotional self-regulation, reducing tension, safely expressing aggression and fostering group interaction. No special musical training is required to take part, as the programme’s main focus is not on performance skills, but on personal experience and the practical mastery of the method.
«The Drum Power method cannot be mastered through theory alone – it must be experienced through one’s own physical, emotional and group experiences. During the summer school, participants will work with sound and rhythm, carry out individual and group exercises, take part in musical improvisations, and learn to notice how their emotional state, stress levels and interaction with others change. No formal musical training is required to take part, as the focus here is not on technical skill but on the ability to listen to oneself, connect with the group and express emotions safely. As a result, participants will not only gain their own experience of music therapy but also develop a practical set of tools that they can adapt for use in the psychological, educational and social spheres»,
«For me, “Drum Power Ukraine 2.0” is much more than a summer school or just another project. It is a space where, through sound and rhythm, people can reconnect with themselves, feel the support of others and rebuild their inner resilience. Today, when the war tests our resilience on a daily basis, such initiatives take on particular significance, as they restore strength, help us navigate complex emotions and remind us that looking after our mental and emotional well-being is not a sign of weakness, but a necessary condition for our ability to live, work and support others. It is precisely in this that I see the true social mission of Ostroh Academy: to stand by people, to listen to society’s needs and to respond to them with concrete, modern and humane solutions. “Drum Power Ukraine 2.0” fits seamlessly into Ukraine’s current reality, as it helps us not only to endure, but also to retain our sensitivity, trust in one another and the strength to move forward. We are ever grateful to our partners – the Andreas Tobias Kind Foundation – for this vital support for the Ukrainian community»,
For further information:
For over 35 years, the Andreas Tobias Kind Foundation (Andreas Tobias Kind Stiftung mbH) has been involved in education, professional development and research in the fields of special education and music therapy, as well as, above all, the individual professional and personal development of people. In this way, the foundation aims to make an effective contribution to the contemporary support of people in need.
