DrumPower: A Creative Path to Violence Prevention and Social Inclusion

Music therapists and teachers looking for a fresh, dynamic approach to working with children and young people are invited to join the DrumPower qualification programme in 2026. Built on more than fifteen years of research and practice, DrumPower uses rhythmic play, improvisation and theatrical elements to strengthen self-esteem, encourage empathy and support constructive conflict resolution.

At its heart, DrumPower is a semi-structured method developed to help children and adolescents navigate aggression, group tension and the everyday social challenges of school life. Through drumming, sound exploration, voice work and music-based role play, participants learn to express themselves safely, listen to one another, and experience what respectful, shared creativity feels like. Over the years, the method has been tested in a series of scientific studies and continually refined based on those findings. It is now used widely in schools, with adapted versions for work with refugees and clinical settings currently in development.

Each project typically ends with a small workshop performance, giving students a chance to show something of their journey and celebrate what they have achieved together.

The training is delivered in two parts — a basic seminar in Munich and an advanced online seminar. Together, they give practitioners the tools to plan and lead DrumPower projects independently:

Basic Seminar (on-site in Munich)

Participants are introduced to the principles behind violence prevention through music, as well as the full DrumPower method. You will experience the central elements first-hand: drum improvisation, sound perception, voice work and music-therapeutic role play. The seminar also explores how to integrate DrumPower into school structures and how to support students in transferring what they learn into everyday life.

Advanced Seminar (online)

The follow-up training focuses on independent planning and implementation. Participants work more deeply with the method, prepare and reflect on their own project ideas, and engage in small-group learning tasks. The online format — spread over two weekends — makes this training accessible for colleagues from across Europe and beyond. A detailed curriculum is available on request.

Throughout the qualification, attention is given not only to musical and therapeutic techniques but also to real-world challenges such as student resistance, lack of motivation, classroom dynamics and the everyday realities teachers and therapists face.

Basic Seminar (Munich)
Thu–Sun, 28–31 May 2026
Thu–Sat: 9:00–18:00, Sun: 9:00–16:30
Venue: Freies Musikzentrum, Ismaninger Str. 29, Munich

Advanced Seminar – Online
Sat/Sun, 12–13 September 2026
Sat/Sun, 23–24 January 2027
Sat: 9:00–18:00, Sun: 9:00–16:30

Language of Instruction: English

Seminar Number: 2026FF503
Fee: €1,170
Lecturers: Dr. Andreas Wölfl, Yoshihisa Kinoshita and guest lecturers

Registration:
Email info@freies-musikzentrum.de with the seminar number, or register online at freies-musikzentrum.de

Further information:
Freies Musikzentrum e. V. München
Ismaninger Str. 29, 81675 Munich, Germany
Tel: +49 (0)89 41 42 47-0
info@freies-musikzentrum.de
www.freies-musikzentrum.de · www.drumpower.eu