HIT SOMETHING (RHYTHMICALLY)

“Drumming is one of those art forms people don’t realise they’re doing,” says Auckland Arts Festival kaihautū Māori Ataahua Papa. “Foot tapping. Drumming fingers on a table.” Be a little more intentional about it and you can turn that absent-minded rhythm-making into full-on artistic expression. A definite drum beat runs through many events in the festival, none more so than City Beats at Aotea Centre on March 15 – a “drum symphony” for the community where 5000 people are expected to turn up with something to hit – poi, buckets, triangle. Taiko, bongo, tabla, djembe, all cultures around the world drum and there’s likely a drum circle in your area to join in the beat. Studies show group drumming leads to enhanced psychological states, especially less depression and greater social resilience. “You don’t have to spend heaps and heaps of money. You could pick up a couple of rocks and hit those together,” says Papa.