Drumming should be taught in schools to help children deal with dyslexia and autism, scientists say

Drumming should be taught in schools to help children deal with dyslexia and autism, new research suggests.

A scientific research project backed by the drummer from 1980’s charttoppers Blondie, Clem Burke, found children with autism showed reduced symptoms after eight weeks of drumming lessons.

The researchers found students who engaged two drumming lessons per week for eight weeks showed fewer signs of hyperactivity, inattention and repetitive behaviours and demonstrated better control of their emotions.

Burke, 69, was in the UK after playing Glastonbury and the Isle of Wight Festival.

He said drumming was a ‘very positive lifestyle’ – despite evidence to the contrary from the deaths of famous drummers such as The Who’s Keith Moon and Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham.

Drumming should be taught in schools to help children deal with dyslexia and autism, new research suggests (stock image)

Describing the research project at The Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition in London, he said: ‘We found the physical and mental attributes of drumming are a very positive lifestyle.

‘And it only gets better as you get older as long as you can keep doing it. 

‘And also we are finding that children with autism, for instance, can really take to simple drumming exercises.’

He recommended that schools in the UK should consider teaching drumming to pupils with autism.

For parents who might baulk at a child saying they want a drum kit for Christmas, Burke said: ‘If a kid’s motivated to do something like drumming, you don’t really want to stop the creative process.’ 

And modern drums can use electronics to minimise the annoyance for neighbours, he said, with the loudest sounds muted so they are heard over headphones. 

The scientists, who published their research in PNAS last year, wrote: ‘Our study provides strong evidence that drumming not only reduces hyperactivity and inattention in autistic adolescents but also strengthens functional connectivity in brain regions responsible for inhibitory control and action outcome monitoring.’

A scientific research project backed by the drummer from 1980’s charttoppers Blondie, Clem Burke (pictured with Debbie Harry), found children with autism showed reduced symptoms after eight weeks of drumming lessons

Ruth Lowry, Reader in Exercise at Essex University, who has been involved in drumming research projects, said: ‘We set out to understand what was happening if we taught children how to play the drums. 

‘We saw changes in terms of peer interactions – which became much more positive. There was less hyperactivity, less disruptive behaviour, less distressed behaviour within the classrooms.’ 

Brain scans of children who learned drumming showed ‘changes in brain structure and volume.’ 

She added: ‘You’ve got many more connections formed in the brain, in areas such as the mirror neuron system, which is associated with observing and repeating patterns, which typically is delayed with autism. 

‘It allows them to be absorbed in an activity, to concentrate. And they like making complex patterns. Some of them have told me that it’s about the mathematics of it, which I find very curious. They talk about the idea of it as a language that they can understand in terms of building complexity. 

‘Others tell me it’s the idea that they can zone out and just concentrate on that one activity. It’s what Clem talked about, that idea of entering a flow state.’ 

Studies of Burke playing the drums showed that the activity was a good aerobic exercise, as well.