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A few passing clouds. Low 69F. Winds light and variable..
A few passing clouds. Low 69F. Winds light and variable.
Participants enjoy the inaugural drum circle at Beverly Bakery and Cafe on April 6. Members of the Quigley Family, owners of the bakery, are organizing the sessions, which will be held the first Wednesday of every month. (Review photo)
The first drum circle welcomed about 10 people, who played various drums that were supplied by Sharon Quigley (left). Participants learned basic drumming techniques, working their way up to performing in unison. The drum circles are free.
Sharon Quigley plays the guitar and other instruments—but not the drums—and she believed that local residents would be interested in joining a drum circle. She purchased the drums for the sessions online, and musicians are also encouraged to bring their own.
B.J. Quigley instructs smiling students during the first session. She has decades of experience in teaching music, and she said her goal is to make people feel good and build confidence. (Review photos)
Participants enjoy the inaugural drum-circle session at Beverly Bakery and Cafe.
Participants enjoy the inaugural drum circle at Beverly Bakery and Cafe on April 6. Members of the Quigley Family, owners of the bakery, are organizing the sessions, which will be held the first Wednesday of every month. (Review photo)
The first drum circle welcomed about 10 people, who played various drums that were supplied by Sharon Quigley (left). Participants learned basic drumming techniques, working their way up to performing in unison. The drum circles are free.
Sharon Quigley plays the guitar and other instruments—but not the drums—and she believed that local residents would be interested in joining a drum circle. She purchased the drums for the sessions online, and musicians are also encouraged to bring their own.
B.J. Quigley instructs smiling students during the first session. She has decades of experience in teaching music, and she said her goal is to make people feel good and build confidence. (Review photos)
Participants enjoy the inaugural drum-circle session at Beverly Bakery and Cafe.
They started as beginners, and in barely an hour’s time, they were playing the drums in unison, with rhythmic music echoing throughout the quaint restaurant.
Beverly Bakery and Cafe, owned by the Quigley Family at 10528 S. Western Ave., hosted an inaugural drum-circle session the evening of April 6, with about 10 people taking a lesson from instructor B.J. Quigley.
The plan is host the drum circles every month, and Quigley patiently—and humorously—guided the first group of students through their first lesson.
“You come from the direction of they’re here because they want to learn and enjoy themselves,” Quigley said. “My whole thing with music is to build people’s confidence in who they are and what they can do, what they can experience.”
Sharon Quigley—B.J.’s sister-in-law and an accomplished musician herself—organized the drum circle, feeling that there was a need in the community.
Sharon, a member of the band “The Blend,” plays guitar, bass and harmonica, and she also sings. However, playing the drums was new for her.
She went online to purchase the drums for the first night.
“All these drums were on sale on eBay for a great price for eight drums,” Sharon said. “[I said], ‘I’m going to start a drum circle,’ so I bought them.”
Participants can use Sharon’s drums or bring their own.
Bongo drums were used on opening night, as well a djembe and tubano, which are both larger in size. B.J., who grew up in Beverly and was a music teacher for several decades, also performed using a bucket as a drum, as do many street performers.
She explained that playing a drum properly is “like touching a hot stove.” Performers should hit the drum, then quickly retract their hand, so that they are “pulling the sound out.”
She also noted that when playing a bucket, performers should use the opposite end of the drumsticks, which are thicker and won’t easily break.
B.J. Quigley led the class with basic instructions, eventually guiding students as they played various rhythms in synchrony.
“She’s a great teacher,” Sharon said. “I had no idea what I was doing.”
John Papara, of Evergreen Park, participated after his wife, Allison, saw Beverly Bakery promote the event on Facebook. The couple owns Made Artisan Collaborative in East Beverly.
Papara brought a cajon drum, which is box-shaped. He had participated in a drum circle before, but it was less structured. The Quigleys’ event, he said, was “very informative.”
“It was enlightening for me,” Papara said. “It’s been a while since I’ve done that.”
B.J. Quigley spent 25 years directing church choirs in Palos Heights and worked in schools for 21 years. She has also conducted pit orchestras. She had to scale back her musical career when she had triplets, but her passion was still apparent at the first Beverly Bakery drum circle.
She said wants students to be excited to play.
“My goal is to just make people have those good feelings,” Quigley said. “That’s how I taught children.”
Beverly Bakery will host the drum circles on the first Wednesday of every month, although a session will not be held in June.
Each session begins at 7 p.m.
For more information, email Sharon Quigley at squig54@comcast.net.
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