Date: Sat. Aug.16, 2025

Feel free to arrive anytime between 8:30-8:45 AM.

• 9 AM-Noon, Part 1: Skill Building
• 12 PM-1:30 PM: Lunch Break
• 1:30 PM-3:30 PM, Part 2: Skill building, practice and refinement. Review of virtual material. 
• 3:30 Social Time (optional)

Venue:  Science Hall Theatre, Westmoreland County Community College 

Youngwood, PA 15697 Just 40 min south of Pittsburgh, PA

Meals are on your own. We recommend bringing a lunch, snacks and water. There are local restaurants within a 5 minute drive.

Lodging: If you are coming in from out of town, there a many good hotels in Greensburg, PA and New Stanton, PA —just down the road from Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC).

Transportation: The closest is Pittsburgh International Airport (45 min).

or Latrobe Airport—Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, Latrobe, PA 15650 (21 min.)

We do not provide ground transportation service.

In the event of a weather related event, the event will be rescheduled. 

No refunds, however, tickets are transferable.

What to bring:

Here are a few optional items you may want to bring with you to make your experience more comfortable.

1. Sweatshirt or sweater

2. Journal/pen

3. Water

4. Snacks

5. Favorite instruments

Percussion is provided and you may also bring your own if you'd prefer.

Jim will have a collection of beautiful handpans rattles and percussion there for you to use and for purchase.

Hi, I’m Jim Donovan—Nice to Meet You!

Since 2010, I’ve been training professionals in the helping fields—including those working in mental health, recovery, education, social work, autism support, and intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Since 1999, I’ve led over 3,000 events and trained thousands of people in the art of using rhythm and sound for connection, healing, and transformation.

Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of working with organizations such as:

TEDx

Veterans Administration

National Council for Therapeutic Recreation

Percussive Arts Society International Convention

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

Before all that, I was a founding member of the multi-platinum
band Rusted Root. Our song “Send Me On My Way” was featured in Ice Age and Matilda—and it even woke up NASA’s Mars Rover.
Today, my mission is simple:
To help people relieve their own suffering through sound-based wellness practices and interactive music making.
I’d love to show you how.


—Jim Donovan, M.Ed 

The training was above and beyond what I expected on every level. I cannot what to use what I learned at work and at home. It was seriously one of the best trainings I have ever attended. Jim is a wonderful instructor and gives you everything you need to empower you to facilitate your own drum circle. I highly recommend!! —Michelle S.

It is better than one can imagine! Jim is an outstanding teacher - very welcoming and inviting. He makes learning easy. He is very generous with the teachings and genuinely wants us to succeed. I make it a point to attend any of his trainings I can. —Connie L.

The best part of the training with Jim was the warm, genuine connections we all made over a relatively short period of time. Jim's style of teaching instantly puts you at ease. And, it was SO MUCH FUN!! Now that I've learned some new drumming techniques, creative ways to engage people into drumming and social games for warm ups, I feel confident about starting a drum circle in my community back home in GA. Thanks Jim for a fantastic drumming experience! —Mary Ellen M.

From the beginning of the training Jim made us feel very welcome and comfortable. At first I was concerned about my lack of percussion experience. That went away rather quickly as Jim provided us with the tools to "smile and keep going". He provides an environment that infectiously brings people together and opens their minds and hearts to learning. I gained so much confidence from this course. I'm looking forward to taking more trainings with Jim. —Heather O.

Absolutely amazing training. Not only did I learn a ton of practical and applicable skills and techniques for leading circles. This training helped me look inward at some things I want to work on for personal growth and development. You will also meet a lot of really amazing people in these trainings! —Matt P.

Thank you Jim Donovan!! I am so grateful to have attended the Drum Circle Leadership Training with you!! The training was SO much more than what I expected!! I was feeling worn and depleted when I went to the training and and was starting to feel better in the first few SECONDS of the training!! I came out feeling refreshed, relaxed, and recharged!! I left with tools to not only help myself, but to share with others!! The connection amongst a group of strangers was truly  amazing and heart warming!! I felt like I have known them for a long time!! Jim's kind genuine spirit and natural talent puts you at ease and creates a safe and healing environment!! I think in today's society of technology, we are missing the basic human connection with others. I felt that connection through this training and am truly grateful!! I had no drumming experience, but don't let that stop anyone from missing out on this opportunity!! There is no right or wrong!! Just SMILE and keep on going!! Keep on drumming!!  —Debbie D.

I just wanted to send you a quick note to say THANK YOU for everything you gave me at the training last weekend. Today I had my first circle since attending the training, and the difference was like night and day. We had several total newbies show up either brought by family members or just from the community at large, many of whom were reluctant or afraid to give drumming a chance. I had one woman who told me outright that she had no rhythm, and would just be watching. I used the tools you gave me to create conditions and expectations, and others handed her a shaker. I watched her move from the shaker to claves to a small djembe. At the end of the circle, she told me how surprised she was to discover she did have musical ability after all, and how much fun she had. — Diana H.

Sitting in the circle with people who had a wide variety of experience and expertise was at first humbling and a bit scary for me. But Jim has a way of getting participants to open their hearts, minds, and spirits to empower success. Since the Facilitator Training Course I have used a thought process that Jim espouses during the training: There are no mistakes in the Circle..... which I interpreted as that I could not make a mistake if they did not exist. And if a person thinks they made a mistake then Jim says just keep on playing....even louder and smile bigger! To this day my mind, heart, and spirit continue to smile because of this powerful philosophy and way of life. I am attempting to use this philosophy in my every day activities as well. Life is definitely becoming more peace-filled! As a result of this course I am becoming connected to more and more like-minded people.
— Pat Fitzgerald Ph.D, Professor, Saint Francis University

I, too, had a very successful, hugely successful circle with a group of women with addictions on Wed. eve. I’m still buzzin’ from it. I would like to thank myself for choosing you, Jim, as my teacher. I’m happy to say that I left this group of 14 women to empowered, and wanting more. I’ve never received so many hugs and hand shakes in one evening. We went around circle talking about our experience and the feedback was all positive, all amazing, very impressive. These women wanted to express their goodness, they wanted to share how they were feeling & they loved it. In the end, I put some art work that I drew in the middle of the circle and invited them to pick the one that best suited how they were feeling. (Not one person felt sad!-) I get to share with these women for the next three weeks now as they continue on their recovery journey. I’m so excited! I just re-lived this circle and feel just as good now as I did then. What a difference this course has made. Thank you!
—Tammy O. 

I felt, heard and sang to the rhythm all 6 1/2 hours as I returned to NY. I’m vibrating with the energy of everyone and everything. The inspiration kick started the rhythm class.... I sent an email to the LAC Drum Circle email list, friends and family. I’m offering 8 dates starting tonight. I’m jumping in! Still pumped! Within an hour I had people signing up for the classes. I feel the support and feedback from everyone at this weekend’s training. I hear Jim’s loving voice encouraging and supportive. This is exactly what I was looking for. I think I am most impressed with the presentation of a VAST amount of material in 2 1/2 days. Jim is VERY generous with the information he is sharing with fellow teachers. It was so well organized and executed that I feel strong as I move forward in applying the additions to what I already have going on.
—Sandra Sabene, Liverpool Art Center

Since the training I have done a drum/percussion circle with a group of older folks, as well as incorporated some of the skills we learned into a bereavement music session for kids. I am so very grateful for the skills learned at the workshop... they are seamlessly incorporating themselves into my work in wonderful ways, really helping to make a difference. Thank you all...!

The rewards were bright smiles, hugs, and even tears from participants :) With the older folks, “One drum/instrument” exercise worked surprisingly well when prefacing it with “and now for something different...,” as I learned here from Sheila’s experience. Also, remembering to come out of the experiences with deep breaths has been enjoyed by participants. With the kids, the drumming portion of the experience was a kind of release. I was able to easily incorporate some cut-stops and rumbles... Turned out to be a great community-building experience for all...
— Ellen G. 

We learned and had fun at the same time. Jim is very knowledgeable, humble, and a giver and makes a beginner feel welcome. I recommend Jim's workshop to anyone who wants to learn a new way for self-care to sign up for a fun way to do it. —Sheron M. 

This was hands down one of the best trainings I have ever been to! I learned so much, and Jim's style of teaching is laid back and reassuring so I felt comfortable to try out the new skills. A great way to recharge and get energized! —Sydney A.

Jim Donovan's Drum Circle Leadership training is great for both seasoned DCFs as well as for those new to drum circle facilitation. Jim has distilled many DCF functions to their core essence, giving them simple language that creates ease in understanding, learning, and delivering! He has a gift for helping facilitators understand objectives, program design, and their role as serving leaders. I highly recommend this training to anyone wishing to hone their skills in serving  others using drumming as their tool! —Toni K. 

I was a little concerned about remembering everything that we learned packed into just a day and a half. However, Jim made it so clear and so much fun with plenty of opportunities to practice the different leadership components that I am feeling confident to lead the drum circle event next weekend with friends and friends of friends. Plus the friendships and connections made with folks from all different walks of life allows for collaboration and inspiration. —Linda S. 

• A comfortable, welcoming and accepting atmosphere.
• To have the opportunity to choose how you interact.
• 10 Total Contact Hours of training. 5 in-person and 5 prerecorded virtual seminars. 
• A PDF Certificate of Completion denoting your 10 contact hours.
• Significant amounts of optional, hands-on practice time.
• Feedback and constructive guidance.
• Tried and tested step-by-step foundation methodology.
• Free access to our private Training Facebook group.
• Specific effective techniques that will help you overcome pre-event nervousness. 
• An understanding of the science behind the benefits of sound healing 
• "Rhythm Seed" Music Creation Tools.
• Structured small group practice & refinement time.

• Sound Healing activities for stress reduction, anxiety relief, mood improvement, pain reduction, enhanced sleep and improved nervous system functioning
• Inclusion regardless of ability
• Letting go of perfectionism
• Being present as a leader
• Serving the group
• Finding ways to flow with change
• Learning the value of collaboration
• How to manage mistakes
• How to empower your participants
• How to create fail-proof sound sessions
• A variety of adaptable rhythm activities
• How to build your own sessions from the ground up
• How to inspire and hold the attention of the most unruly groups

• Anyone interested in utilizing the power of sound and rhythm for wellbeing with others and themselves
• Counselors
• Addiction - Recovery professionals
• Healthcare professionals
• Music Therapists
• Music Teachers
• Drum Circle Facilitators
• Therapeutic music makers
• Anyone who works with people with PTSD and veterans
• Anyone who works with children
• Camp Counselors
• Grief Counselors
• Sexual abuse and domestic violence counselors
• Alternative healers
• After school activity directors
• People who work with disadvantaged youth
• Social workers
• Disaster relief workers
• Church and spiritual group leaders
• Elementary educators