SMARTS—Students Motivated by the Arts—is an arts education partnership between the College of Fine & Performing Arts, the Beeghly College of Education, the Youngstown City Schools, and many vital arts organizations in our region. SMARTS motivates students by teaching them the discipline that artistic creation requires. SMARTS projects have included creating original operas, literature and art magazines, artists in the schools, dance in the classroom, and theater arts classes.
One component of SMARTS is the Drum Circle Program, founded by Glenn Schaft and whose mission is to offer the benefits of group drumming, a form of recreational music- making, to our community regardless of previous musical experience. Drumming, one of the oldest healing rituals and forms of music-making, created a sense of community and belonging for many ancient civilizations. The elements of group empowerment drumming include nurturing/support, camaraderie, music-making, self-expression, exercise, guided imagery, and spirituality.
Community Drum Circles - are free, open to participants of all ages, and occur at the SMARTS Center which is adjacent to the DeYor Performing Arts Center on West Federal Plaza Street in downtown Youngstown. Instruments are provided courtesy of SMARTS and REMO Inc. Participants are welcome to bring appropriate instruments as well.
The SMARTS Drum Circle Program provides employment opportunities for our students to gain facilitation experience at the SMARTS Center and area schools.
For more information, contact: Kelly Bancroft (Assistant Director of SMARTS) 330.941.1846, kabancroft@ysu.edu