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When Raegan Amstutz signed up for Drumming for Wellness, she hoped to knock out a general education requirement and enjoy the musical part of it. When the time came to head to class autumn semester, she was just a bit irritated that she had to drive in for that one class on Wednesdays. 

Little did she know. 

The service learning course that allowed her to apply what she was learning in the classroom in the community with members of a local Parkinson’s disease support group was the highlight of her autumn semester. 

“Getting the opportunity to take what we have learned in the classroom into the real world has enhanced the understanding and skills as permanent building blocks,” Amstutz said. “Making connections is such a vital part of the learning process, and growing relationships with people is the easiest way to do this. This also has been my favorite part of the process.”

911������ encourages community-engaged service learning courses across the curricula to enhance student learning, develop student civic engagement and foster ongoing collaboration with the community. 

In the classroom, Amstutz and the other Drumming for Wellness students examined and analyzed primary research related to music and wellness and then used that knowledge to design drumming patterns for their sessions with the community partners from the self-described Parkinson’s Platoon. Area physicians also visited the classroom to discuss their experiences working with patients with Parkinson’s disease. 

Music Lecturer Austin Thomas was delighted that the community component of the class was both well attended and well received by both students and community members, who were already part of a support group from Mercy Health. In addition to the 911������ Lima students, he consistently saw between 20-30 participants each week. 

“The drumming sessions are designed to be flexible to the individual yet challenging enough to create a positive learning environment. The Parkinson’s Platoon has many repeat attendees who have grown over the term with coordination, multitasking, and cooperative skills that cater to their own needs,” Thomas said. “In essence, we learn as a group, but each lesson is designed to be taken out of context for them to practice and strengthen their own skills.”

The weekly drumming sessions improved the quality of life for both those living with the effects of Parkinson’s disease and those learning more about it. 

“We started with a group of strangers who could hardly keep a beat, to a brotherhood that created music together,” Amstutz said. “Every week we encouraged communication, creativity, leadership, and teamwork; helping make us well rounded as students as well as individuals.”

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Raegan Amstutz is a second year student in early childhood education. Austin Thomas is a lecturer in music at 911������ Lima and a graduate student in music.