WHAT IT IS:
A custom-designed program in which your students focus on building purpose and connection with others, deepening listening skills, exploring ways to enhance creativity and developing new stress-reduction skills. 
 
WHY IT EXISTS:
Because when you take a common object and ask everyone to actively participate in and share it, an extraordinary thing happens – people evolve from being separate, vulnerable, competitive, insecure individuals, to joining together as a cohesive whole - an entity fostering mutual respect, communication (particularly listening), honesty, equality, and imagination.

Suddenly, the ninety disparate, self-conscious freshman have morphed into "team rhythm." Why? Because they were required to put aside all preconceived notions, all labels, all differences and work together to create a unified whole.
And, all the while, they relaxed, laughed, communicated, and "saw" each other in a whole new light.
 
WHERE IT HAPPENS:
Virtually any space:
• Large enough to hold the group seated in armless chairs.
• In which it is perfectly ok to be loud!
• Preferably In-doors
We can accommodate groups up to 100 people per session. Larger groups are possible upon request.

HOW MUCH TIME IT TAKES:
Variable. Each program is custom designed to fit the situation.
Usually 60 – 90 minutes per session
 
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: 
It was a pleasure to have Jim on campus. He puts on the type of interactive event that easily gets students involved.  Jim is a total professional; he quickly puts people at ease and soon has the entire group drumming in unison.  Programming at a two-year college can be difficult.  Jim's event grabs everyone's attention. We had busy, stressed-out nursing students take the time to join Jim for two sessions!  He's great!
-Eoin Kinnarney, Director Student Activities Gloucester County College

"Rhythmic Motivation was more successful than I could have imagined. I was really impressed with how the workshop was for all of our employees. The learning curve as well as any employee apprehension melted away as the group started drumming in unison. Jim is truly a gifted leader, teacher and facilitator. Six months later employees are still talking about the workshop and referencing the common metaphors. The workshop serves many valuable lessons from Active listening to avoiding 'paralysis by analysis' and just trying new challenges. I wholeheartedly recommend this workshop."
- Drayton Foltz
Director of Production and Technology
Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
University of Maryland

"During this session I felt a major release of all that was troubling me. It was a unifying experience where I felt like there was only me and one other person in the room. This alone was comforting because I usually have trouble with performance in front of as many people there as there are. The beat, the rhythm, and especially the sound all contributed to this unifying and I felt that there weren't any more problems. No problems with pain, no issues at work or home, no issues with anything. I could beat it into oblivion where it belongs – like nothing else matters. That's the ultimate feeling I had…that nothing else mattered.
-Stacie Tkach
Student Saint Francis University
 
"Extremely engaging and enlightening; when the students finally "got it," you could see it on their faces and feel it in the room."
-Dex Tuttle
Assistant Director for Programming
PA College of Technology
 
Uplifting, Stress-busting, Smile-making, Groove-finding . . . what more can I say? The Rhythmic Motivation drum workshop exceeded even our highest expectations. At the outset, it was clear that Jim Donovan's deep-seeded love for drumming was going to be infectious. What was a surprise, though, was that he was able to turn a ragtag band of carpenters, timberframers, architects, engineers, and designers into a rock-solid ensemble weaving complex rhythms into a single, powerful groove.
 
When we first booked the drumming workshop, there was a lot of trepidation from the non-musicians in the group, and more than a little hand-wringing from some who questioned the intrinsic value of a drum workshop for a company that designs and builds houses. In the final analysis, though, the hand-drumming appealed to virtually everyone. As a part of our events committee, it was really gratifying to see all that trepidation and hand-wringing dissolve into easy smiles and confident participation.
 
In short, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this event to anyone, anywhere. Was it worth the investment? Unquestionably, yes! But more than that, it was just a blast. The only question now is, "When can we do it again?"
Erik Walker 
Benson Wood Walpole, NH
 
Feedback from staff was great.  They felt that the majority of the students really enjoyed the presentation. When you consider that this place was designed to deal with the most violent, disruptive students in the PA Juvenile Corrections system, they did pretty well.  I think that this type of programming really enhances what we do here. We really enjoyed having you there and we look forward to doing it again.  
-Mike Burke
Director: Cresson Juvenile Corrections Facility 
 
"It's obvious from his performances the Jim Donovan has a way with drums; even more impressive is his way with people. By the end of the evening, our students were pounding out complex rhythms and having a great time doing it!"
-Dave Maslar
Director, Student Activities
Broome Community College

Special requirements:
Small PA 2 microphones/2 boom stands wireless headset preferred for one of the microphones.
Preferably indoors
armless chairs for all participants
One 8 foot table

Web: http://www.JimDonovanMusic.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/jimdonovan
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/jmdbird

James Donovan
(BA Music : University of Pittsburgh)

As a founding member of multi-platinum selling recording artists Rusted Root, Jim Donovan has had the great fortune of sharing in helping millions of people all over the globe dance, smile and sweat since 1990. They have sold in excess of three million recordings, made countless trips around North America where they were blessed to share the stage with such Rock and Roll legends as Santana, Page and Plant, Sting, Dave Matthews Band, The Allman Brothers, The Grateful Dead and many others. They have appeared on numerous national TV shows, including MTV, FX, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien VH-1's Hard Rock Live and the CBS Morning Show. Their music has been featured on numerous television shows as well as major motion films such as Ice Age, Mathilda, Twister and the PBS Web of Life Documentary.

On his own Donovan has released 3 highly acclaimed solo CDs as well as 4 instructional drumming CDs. He has also recorded with with World Music recording artist Krishna Das on his highly acclaimed CD “Live on Earth”. Donovan's most recent CD Revelation #9 was nominated for 2004 Electronica Album of the Year by International Songwriters organization.

Fulfilling his desire to share the power of rhythm first hand to people, Donovan has built a series of educational drumming workshop programs that he teaches across the US at universities, festivals, schools, corporations and specialty venues. He is an instructor of music at Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA and is the current director of and is the current director of the Saint Francis University World Drumming Ensemble. He is a featured columnist in Drum! Magazine, the worlds number one drumming magazine. Donovan was nominated for “Best Rock Pop Percussionist” in the 2004 Drum! Magazine Readers poll.

Helpful Links:
HI RES 300 DPI Promo Photos:
Jim Donovan Bio:
Promotional Videos:
Rhythmic Motivation : Drumming Program description:
DRUM THE ECSTATIC INTERNATIONAL performance description: