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When Jordan Goodman walks into a room at Arlington Elementary/Middle School, he's "the cool guy." After all, he always has a drum with him.<br><br>
For the past year, Goodman has interned as a mental health counselor at the Pimlico school while earning his masters in clinical psychology at Loyola University. Weekly, Goodman and the children sit, drum-circle style, and make music.<br><br>
"In all my work, drumming is the metaphor," he said. "I'll talk about community and teamwork when we're drumming together."<br><br>
Goodman, who is not a licensed music therapist, calls what he does "therapeutic drumming sessions." In the classroom now -- and through what he hopes will be private lessons with parents who have children with ADHD or anxiety --Goodman sits down with groups of children to talk and play. <br><br>
While drumming, children talk to him about their home lives, what they did during the weekend. They let it out -- verbally and on the drum.<br><br>
"We'll drum, but drum mindfully," said Goodman, who plays drums in the indie-rock band the Dialogue. "It becomes a place to go when they're stressed."<br><br>
Community centers and private and public schools have enlisted Goodman's therapeutic drumming, but Goodman still bemoans the lack of daily music in the lives of the children he works with.<br><br>
"One thing that pisses me off the most is the STEM paradigm," said Goodman, referring to the dominance of science, technology, engineering and math at school. "It would be so easy to make it STEAM and add art in there. The leaders of the world, the changers, are artists -- fearless and creative. "If you cut art out of a child's education, it cuts out any chance of individuality."
<i>-Jordan Bartel</i>

Jordan Goodman, 26, therapeutic drumming practitioner, Owings Mills

( Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun / April 17, 2012 )

When Jordan Goodman walks into a room at Arlington Elementary/Middle School, he's "the cool guy." After all, he always has a drum with him.

For the past year, Goodman has interned as a mental health counselor at the Pimlico school while earning his masters in clinical psychology at Loyola University. Weekly, Goodman and the children sit, drum-circle style, and make music.

"In all my work, drumming is the metaphor," he said. "I'll talk about community and teamwork when we're drumming together."

Goodman, who is not a licensed music therapist, calls what he does "therapeutic drumming sessions." In the classroom now -- and through what he hopes will be private lessons with parents who have children with ADHD or anxiety --Goodman sits down with groups of children to talk and play.

While drumming, children talk to him about their home lives, what they did during the weekend. They let it out -- verbally and on the drum.

"We'll drum, but drum mindfully," said Goodman, who plays drums in the indie-rock band the Dialogue. "It becomes a place to go when they're stressed."

Community centers and private and public schools have enlisted Goodman's therapeutic drumming, but Goodman still bemoans the lack of daily music in the lives of the children he works with.

"One thing that pisses me off the most is the STEM paradigm," said Goodman, referring to the dominance of science, technology, engineering and math at school. "It would be so easy to make it STEAM and add art in there. The leaders of the world, the changers, are artists -- fearless and creative. "If you cut art out of a child's education, it cuts out any chance of individuality." -Jordan Bartel

Comments (2)

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delmarman at 8:49 PM April 19, 2012

It's nice to see that a number of people on this list are not related to the Internet. There's more to life and this young man is one example of what a bright social future Baltimore has. Congratulations on a most unique concept and to all the other honorees.

Anita King at 4:56 PM April 18, 2012

Congrats to my wonderful great-nephew, Jordon. Keep up the great work - I'm so proud of you. I recently attended a hospice retreat for volunteer caregivers and we had a drum circle - it was fantastic. LUV, Aunt Anita

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