Facilitator Guidelines

The GC Community Drumming Group Handbook provides guidelines and expectations for all facilitators.

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Beyond developing suitable sessions and activities, time management and record keeping are high on the list of requirements. Facilitators must be prepared to share duties with co-facilitators, arrive early for all sessions and have a solid, memorized plan for each session with the ability to improvise and create new, relevant activities on the spot.

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Facilitators must always keep in mind that many participants do not consider themselves to be musicians or capable of music-making. Many have never played a drum or percussion instrument in their lives. Some participants come to the group because they need to make new friends or are unfamiliar with university life and are seeking solace from a new or stressful environment.

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Because of this, a major part of CDG facilitators' duties are to help everyone feel welcome and prized as an individual. The easiest way to scare away or marginalize participants is for a facilitator to make the group about oneself and one's own skill set.

Facilitation in essence means making each experience easy and pleasurable. The facilitator is a mentor and guide. Skills that are above the level of the newest or novice members should be avoided while the needs and expectations of experienced participants must also be met. It may seem difficult at first but a balance can and must be maintained.

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Facilitators are not part of the CDG to show-case skills or amazing performance techniques. Facilitators encourage, engage, and involve all participants to the best of the participants' abilities, without regard to one's own abilities as a musician. Musicianship is important but facilitation and compassion come before all else.

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If you believe that you can manage these primary expectations to become a CDG facilitator, read on.