Egg shakers and Internal Rhythms
Egg shakers are simple, humble instruments. And yet there is something intensely comforting about rocking a steady beat using them. Once in your hand, both children and adults alike know intuitively what to do with them. And once your mind and body catch the rhythm, something 'clicks' and everything falls into place.
We all have a rhythm inside us. For children, it's the faster 'micro' beat, (think the pitter-patter of footsteps when they run) while for adults, it is usually a slower 'macro' beat. Creating and keeping your own beat (without music) somehow organises your own internal rhythms. Your head starts to bob, your body bounces, your feet help keep time, and your breathing in sync. All at once you feel aware, connected and satisfyingly in the moment.
Mental and Emotional health
Time and again, research demonstrates the benefits of music (rhythm and pitch) and movement to help sharpen focus and calm the brain’s stress responses. This in turn, encourages balanced thinking and emotional control.
Keeping rhythm through drumming has been shown to help kids with social anxiety. Research found that kids who participated in group sessions reaped numerous rewards. These include the ability to develop listening skills, cooperation, and patience with others. However, it's not all about drumming. Egg shakers, and other percussion instrument play can influence and increase attention as well as:
- Improve impulse control
- Improve ability to focus internally and externally
- Increase level of self-awareness and self-esteem
- Better command over breath and physical coordination
- Improved attention and task completion
- Better listening, patience, and cooperation
- Lower levels of frustration and aggression
- Increased creative, positive energy; decreased negative, destructive energy
- Develop self-control, patience and cooperation
In short:
Music is not just about listening to the radio or CD. It's about making music - and simple instruments like egg shakers can make a huge difference. The benefits include social adaptability, self-control, coping skills, physical health, improved focus, patience and self-awareness.
Resources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3095989/