What People Are Saying About

Matt Savage And Rhythm Alive Drum Circles...

"Matt and Amy Savage were guest clinicians for me in Moscow on two occasions. Each time, they came for a week and performed a variety of clinics, drum circles, lessons, and performances. Matt and Amy brought immense value to our school and helped change attitudes about percussion in our school for the better. They connect with children extremely well and very quickly, which is a crucially important skill for a visiting clinician. Matt and Amy have an easy way with people of all ages, but especially kids, that enables them to endear themselves to groups in a genuine way.

Matt and Amy’s session are about more than drumming - they are about communication, community, and working together. My students in Moscow learned about music not just as a sonic art, but learned to rethink of it as a way for people to communicate that is different from anything else. They became attuned to the energy of the room, and reacted and learned to respect it. The drum circles in particular are a unique, powerful way for students to learn about the true nature of musical communication.

Additionally, Matt and Amy were extremely professional, easy to work with, and flexible to adapting their programs to my band program’s needs. I would highly recommend them to anyone seeking to give their entire music program an invigorating experience that has the power to change students’ perceptions of music, not only percussion."

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Matthew Oliveria

Former Band Director

The Anglo-American School, Moscow, Russia

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"The drum circle professional development training was the best I have ever attended in 40 years of teaching.  It linked basic beats to education in a way that I never would have considered.  It started with fundamentals and then connected them to a bigger picture, tying the  beat to discipline and then expanding that beat all the way to freedom of expression.  The drum circle mirrored teaching in a remarkable way that was fun, informative and thought provoking. The presenter was excellent and communicated well with our faculty in a way we all could relate to very easily.  Thank you for a tremendous experience."

Coach Dodd

Sycamore High School

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“I think there are few experiences that are as genuine for music makers as having students participate in one of Matt's drum circles.  Students gather without preconceived expectations, come  and have fun, and walk away amazed with what they have learned from this activity.  Everything we want kids to learn in music is experienced by the students in one of these drum circles. The metaphors are numerous and the student always walk away from the experience having seen how the group is a collection of the individuals, how democracy is essential to music making and how music (life) is as rewarding as the quality of the investment made.  Students are engaged, have fun and can see connections between all of the essential elements of life and music.”

Mark R. Beamish
Assistant Principle

Farmington Woods School

Cary, NC

"Matt worked with our student leaders in the marching band as a part of our leadership training program. He was able to use music to teach many lessons of communication and teamwork that we talk about in rehearsals. The session was very interactive and the students were active participants, rather than being lectured to. I would recommend Matt's program to any band director looking for a creative way to not only develop their student leaders but develop a greater sense of community and culture for their whole program."

Creighton Flowers

Band Director

Green Hope High School

Cary, NC

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“Matt Savage's drum circles are immediately engaging, stimulating and

awakening--in short, they are superb musical and educational experiences.  I have observed Matt's sessions with groups of varying ages and musical levels and have consistently been impressed at his ability to communicate with novices as easily as with sophisticated musicians.  The drum circles

themselves create awareness of rhythm at all levels, from the pulse of an

individual person's heart to the energy flow of large groups working

together.  Each participant will find this a meaningful experience.”

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Michael Votta, 

Director of Bands

University of Maryland

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"Rhythm Alive was such an incredible experience for our high school faculty as well as our band students.  Matt's ability to personalize the program to the needs of the group made for a truly remarkable experience in team building and communication."

Adrian Baker

Assistant Principal

Sycamore High School

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“Matt Savage runs a great circle. Everybody was wearing a smile by about the third minute. I got some constructive ideas abut forming a multi-level circle myself.”

John Fedderson

Tympanist / Principle Percussionist

North Carolina Symphony

“I’ve never played drums before but I felt comfortable and it felt like I’ve been playing for years!”
Jamenia Morgan - Raleigh, NC

"That was an excellent circle. Perfect mix of all elements. I had some real eye-openers, not only with what you were teaching us, but they way you got us to turn around and comprehend what happened in a way that just nailed the experience beautifully. You were playing some beautiful, wonderfully phrased improvisation. You are a master. No doubt."
Rick Radium- Raleigh, NC