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Autism & Education: Tourette syndrome and how Matt Giordano’s Drum Circle, Inc. gives clarity
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Autism, asperger’s and SPD are often in the news…but what about tourette syndrome? What is it exactly and what is it like?
Well, what would it be like to have a perpetual “itch that just needed to be, but couldn’t be scratched”? What would it be like to have the feeling of an “oncoming barrage of something…..but you didn’t know what?” These are descriptions I have by individuals with a condition that has been the focus of some media attention as of late, Tourrette Syndrome. This attention is in no small part due to the fascinating story of Matt Giordano of Drum Echoes, Inc. which was spotlighted on the June 30th episode of Nova Science Now: ‘Musical Minds’. To my delight, Matt is an incredibly sensitive, kind hearted and gifted young musician.
Kathleen: Hi Matt. Thanks so much for taking the time today to answer these questions and for giving us a little more insight into your world and the world of many who are dealing with Tourette Syndrome. Matt, during your segment of ‘Musical Minds’, you said, “It was a puzzle, right, and some of the pieces were not in place, and, all of a sudden, everything just kind of clicked”. Can you just for a moment, elaborate on that. From the context, I believe you were referring to how the music, and the act of drumming were actually organizing your brain activity….your thought processes and your physical ‘energy system’…is that correct? And can you give me a better insight into exactly how this happens for you.
Matt: When I have motor tics, it’s a lack of physical control over my body’s movements. I’ve noticed that I use more of my right side of my body than my left throughout my daily life activities. Before that moment when I had that “click into place” my symptoms were very severe. Much more than they are at this time in my life. I remember before I did that when I would look into the mirror, my facial structure was not symmetrical. One eye brow was higher than the other, one eye was more open than the other. One side of my upper lip was higher while the other side of the lower lip was lower. (kind of like an Elvis Presley look when he said “thank you, thank you very much”.) It was a very imbalance structure of the two hemispheres of my face and body. I wasn’t as coordinated with my left motor functions as I was with my right.
I then started playing a drumming rhythm where my entire body was in a very balance stance (which is what a drummer is suppose to do) and was playing the rhythm at an even speed (tempo) and repeating the rhythm fluidly and alternating my hands while I played. By doing this I was placing both of my body’s hemisphere’s into a very balance state of rhythmic movement and control. After doing that for about five minutes was when I felt everything within my entire being “click” or connect with every other function of my being into a balance form of complete harmony where everything was working together. I remember right after that happened I was in much more control of body (less tics). That static in my mind of racing thoughts or ADD was washed out and was very clear, and I could even see and hear clearer. Was like going from our grandparents black and white fuzzy TV to HD TV instantly. My whole world around me was much more clear and in much better focus. I notice my level of irritability was lessoned and I was a lot calmer had more control of my emotions. I looked in the mirror afterwards and noticed my facial structure moved from the imbalanced Elvis look, to a very symmetrical form as well.
Kathleen: You mentioned “Harmony” Matt. There are articles and sources on the internet that imply that methods like Chi Gong, Tai chi and other movement based meditation practices can have a profound effect on the symptoms of Tourette syndrome for certain individuals. Do you have any knowledge of this and/or theories as to why this may be the case? For example, do you think that perhaps the same type of organizational activity takes place within the brain for these as it does during musical movement activities?
Matt: Unfortunately I have never tried chi gong or tai chi, but I plan on it someday hopefully soon but I can definitely see how that might have similar results to the effect I had when I played the drums as I explained earlier.
Kathleen: Here is a link to an article on the TSA (Tourette Syndrome Association) website about your Drum Circles events. http://www.tsa-ma.org/resources/TSA_Drum_Circle_Article.pdf In the article, it is shown how neuro-typical children who attend the events have an absolutely fabulous time, but not only that, may actually benefit in a therapeutic fashion as well as those who may have sensory issues. Can you tell us a bit more about your Drum Circle events and how inclusion works for all the children involved?
Matt: Most of all, it’s a fun activity where people work together as a group and community. People of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can participate in this. It is a great way for people to come together and work together on common ground regardless of other background’s and differences. Everyone is playing the drums with everyone else and that’s it. I’m going to speak my two cents now by saying that I truly believe that a lot of our problems are based on a lack of community. There are so many benefits to a good solid community. A drum circle is a community. Eating dinner at the dinner table is community. Good communication is from a good community. Those two words sound very similar. When you have a lack of community you have a lack of communication and lack of understanding. We all know how important it is for good communication. I would bet many wars would not have ever happened if there was better communication and understanding and of a world of just one human community. World peace! Ha ha! There is the answer world peace. I figured it out!
A lack of community leads into many problems. Social time is limited, and then after that, understanding, caring and relating to others is reduced and after that you run into all sorts of problems. I can’t say enough on the impact and power of a good and strong community. I had a lot of really great challenges as a child and my parents did a magnificent job raising me, but it wasn’t only them that did that. I had a lot of support from friends, other family members and teachers that had a huge impact on my upbringing. I was raised by a great community. Drum Circle’s is a form of a community. A lot of people with a variety of neurological disorders do not feel like they fit in with a “community” and the way community is lacking in our society it’s even more challenging for an individual with a neurological disorder to feel a part of a good community. From having a neurological disorder I can say from experience that when I feel a part of a good community my symptoms reduce significantly and remains that way for a while after I am away from that “community” experience.
So not only does a drum circle have profound impact on a sense of community but it also is a great release and I have found that getting into a collaborative rhythmic movement has a lot of great healing powers on me as well. When I’m not drumming I’m working at my desk a lot or driving in my car and I’m not moving enough. Drumming gets you moving. I have noticed when I drum with other people in a constant rhythm and movement it has a great affect on me. Similar example of this working well is geese in a flying V formation. I get the group on their feet and dancing to the drumming and chanting and singing. Not just playing drums while sitting down. There movin’ and groovin’. Participating in a drum circle requires to work with the group and requires to listen to your drumming and finding your own beat as well as listening and playing to everyone else’s beat. It’s fun, timeless, moving, invigorating, empowering, way to release and let loose, it’s also relaxing and overall it’s just a great experience! There is a great book called “The healing power of the drum” by Robert Lawrence Friedman. It talks about a lot of incredible studies of how drums have helped so many people with a variety of mental, emotional and physical challenges. A drum circle is without question Incredible in so many ways.
Kathleen: In regard to community, I believe you’re very right Matt! As we talk with concerned individuals in autism awareness circles, we hear the same concerns about the lack of community and the need for reform. This seems to be a crucial component in neuro-typical situations, autism spectrum, tourettes and all other factions of society….using the communal spirit to effect healing of the whole.
Now I’m going to shift directions for just a moment and touch on the topic of children with sensory issues such as Tourette Syndrome and bullying. Regarding bullying, here is a quote from the TSA (Tourette Syndrome Association) website, “Bullying is hardly a recent phenomenon. Children with Tourette Syndrome are especially vulnerable to this type of mistreatment. Whether we witness it directly or whether the child denies being a victim does not mean that it is not happening. Bullying destroys a child's self worth and spirit. It creates fear, anxiety and incredible pain. It leaves the child with emotional scars that will last a lifetime. Parents and educators have an obligation to do whatever they can to stop the bullying. They must take all steps possible to prevent this insidious type of abuse from slowly destroying lives.”
Matt, from your perspective, what are things that you would like children, adolescents and young adults to be educated about in regard to bullying in the school setting…to become more aware of that may help them understand the inner dialogue of someone dealing with the symptoms of Tourette syndrome?
Matt: IT NEEDS TO STOP!!! I think first and foremost, we as adults have to stop blaming children for how they are! Whether they’re being a bully or not. Children’s actions and reactions are much more of our responsibility than theirs. We are their teachers, they are our students. They are a reflection of us. If we are unhappy with the way they are then we need to do something different. This is a hard time to live in such a complicated and confusing world for us adults. Can you imagine how difficult and complicating and confusing it is for kids? We are feeding their minds and hearts with so much crazy and confusing information.
When they watch tv and listen to the radio there is such a strong influence on fighting and sex and anger and fear and violence but then we tell them that’s not right. But when we are not talking directly to them and are around our adult friends we act and talk in that same manner that we told them not to do. I see it all the time, “don’t do as I do, do as I say” That doesn’t really work. Many times I’ll actually see adults encouraging that poor behavior onto their kids as well. I get so frustrated when I see that. I want to say to them “don’t you realize what you are teaching them” Kids are a sponge to the world. We have to do better with what we are teaching them. And for god’s sake let a kid be a kid! I’m so tired of seeing a parent constantly saying “No” Don’t do that and do this instead. When most of the time the kids are doing things that are completely harmless and they’re just being a kid. Let’s get our priorities straight on how we are raising them. When it comes to bullying we need to be adults and not allow harmful actions. We also need to educate kids on the importance of respecting others and how to treat others. This comes down to that Community thing. Educate kids on other people’s differences to understand where they are coming from. There needs to be no tolerance for harmful behavior. They need to be educated better in what is right and wrong and of people’s differences. Getting separation and lack of understanding reduced, and to start bringing up awareness, community and understanding is a very effective solution to this problem.
Another very important thing to do is treat kids with respect. A good leader is someone who commands a group with respect and gives them the sense of valued appreciation. Raise them up, not bust them down. When I was a kid in first grade I told my entire class I had Tourette syndrome and why I was doing what I was doing. The very next day the acceptance and understanding went up, the bullying went down and that lasted throughout the rest of the school year. I then decided to do this at the beginning of every school year and it got to a point when I was in middle school, everyone in my grade knew what I had and my TS was almost never an issue with most of peers. There were a few kids that still made fun of me but since I was well accepted and everyone knew what I had, the entire grade would almost gang up on them for it because they all knew that these couple of kids knew why I was doing what I was doing, and bullying me was not acceptable. Because I educated my class early on, I was accepted, which helped with my confidence and self value, which helped with me knowing my level of ability to be able to achieve my dreams and so on. But this can still be very effective whether it is done early on or not. Educate NOW!
My parents did one awesome job with raising my brother, sister and I. They were not strict with many things and allowed us to be free and ourselves and trusted us in many ways. At the same time while most of my other friends had toy guns and were allowed to watch certain TV shows and have cigarette candy and allowed to eat a lot of junk food, I was not. They were strict in some ways and not strict in others. But they had a good sense of priorities and how to raise us to grow into the best adult’s we could be. The most important and effective thing my parents did was they loved me and supported me every heavy and light step of the way. They made sure that I did not feel ashamed of my TS. I never had to apologize for the way that I was. They believed in me and supported me and loved all the way through!
Kathleen: Matt you are truly an exceptional man with an amazing story from an awesome family! I’m sure your story and your successes give encouragement to many young people with Tourette Syndrome. Now are there any concepts you would like to leave our reading audience with in regard to Tourette’s in general?
Matt: Treat and know people as you would want to be treated and as you know yourself. Whether it is someone with Tourettes or with another form of outer or inner physical, mental or emotional difference, or not. We are the same species and there is no need, excuse or reason to be treated or to treat someone else as less of a human being. We are all capable of doing great things and great harm. See that in ourselves and in everyone else. Support and feed the great, so that the harm shall starve and diminish. We all have our own shoes that have walked different path’s with our unique stains of mud and grass painted onto them. But regardless, we all have the same human feet inside every shoe.
Kathleen: Thank you Matt. A great deal of wisdom from a very young and gifted man. This has been an extreme privilege for me. What would you like to accentuate about Drum Circle, Inc. What would you like for us to remember, take with us, and tell others about this enterprise?
Matt: Well, it’s called Drum Echoes, Inc. where I facilitate drum circles, give presentations and direct drumming performances in very small nut shell. Not trying to brag but it’s an awesome company doing great things through the power of the drumming. Visit our website for more details. It will be worth your while. People that already know about it have spent thousands of dollars to fly me all over the continent for one hour’s worth of a Drum Echoes drumming event and many of them have done it more than once, so to them it was worth it to spend the money on another Drum Echoes experience! www.drumechoes.com
Kathleen: Matt, thank you so much for your time, your insights and the essence of your work.
Additional information about Drum Circle, Inc. can be found at http://drumechoes.org/about.html and some excellent links, obtained from the Drum Echoes website, regarding Tourette Syndrome can be found at:
Alternative health treatments for Tourette’s, A.D.D., and cancer
www.ABetterLife.info
Natural treatments for tics and Tourette’s guidebook
www.TicsAndTourettes.com
Website of the Association for Comprehensive Neuro-Therapy
www.latitudes.org
How to stand up for yourself and avoid bullying others
www.GrabABullyByTheHorns.com
Matt: Your welcome and Thank you! :D
Enjoy as the gifted Matt Giordano gives a solo performance at a trendy coffee house!
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