Skip to Content

THE “OR HATOF” ENSEMBLE

Eight young people with intellectual disabilities play percussion instruments at the Cochav Center. The ensemble was founded 6 years ago and its focus is playing on a variety of the following percussion instruments:
Dejembe: A traditional African Goblet (or Chalice) drum played by West African tribes.
Darbuka: An eastern Goblet drum played in Asia in different styles
Dundun: A barrel drum played by African tribes accompanied by Dejembe base sounds
Balaphone An African xylophone set at a 5-note scale made from “Bala” wood thus it’s name.
    
 
                                             
 
The group formed 6 years ago works and rehearses at the Cochav Center under the instruction of Eyal Loman, a musician and teacher of percussion instruments. The ensemble appears before audiences throughout Israel at private and official events and even national events such as festivals and conventions.
 
The groups repertoire includes African rhythms such as the rumba and jensa to rhythms of the middle-east such as Hamelpuf and the Baladi.
It is an extraordinary combination of African and Asian traditions.
The group also plays melodious pieces using the Balaphone such a “Tehilo” - an African tune on a pentatonic scale.
A Chinese folk tune called “Chelsolin”
 		   

The Drum as a therapeutic-tool in the treatment and development of a people with special needs
The drum as the most ancient communication tool was used by various tribes throughout the world as a means of communication, in broadcasting messages and also as an interpersonal contact tool for development of life within the tribe.
Communication has two faces one active in producing sounds and passively for listening. The playing strengthens environmental communication for the disabled person by integrating active playing and listening in order to facilitate integration within the group.
The musician receives tools that are transmitted at various levels – in confronting an active environment and the need to integrate into the group. Playing of the drum develops coordination by using two sides of the body and practicing how to transfer messages from the brain to the hands. The drum balances between the two sides of the body and thus improves the motorics of the entire body. The balance attained by working with two hands in various ways improves the contact between the body and the soul.
Personal expression on the drum enables a person to express conscious emotions and deeply concealed and suppressed emotions within and in doing so releasing blocked emotions and to express happiness between him/her and between one’s surroundings.
Music enables everyone to express his/her various emotions and it is one of the tools that unifies people without any distinction to one’s intellectual aptitude.
The drum as a primary tool for expression is the most accessible of all musical instruments being basically easy to use. This mode of expression by drumming is so simple and easy to learn.
The rhythm is part of our lives externally as sounds of nature and internally as the heartbeats and blood circulating in our bodies.
Playing intensifies our creativity and as such teaches a person to recognize and express oneself.
By expressing one’s creativity a person strengthens his/her self-confidence and the desire to express themselves and be active in society.
The drum as a tool with tempo is linked directly to the earth and its sound sends therapeutic energy to mankind. The range of sounds of the drum are wide and influence the various layers of the human body from the lower half linked to one’s stability and motorics whereas the upper body influences the functioning of the brain.
With correct guidance the drum becomes a significant help tool in the development of a person and especially for the person with special needs.

 

Enquiries relating to ordering performances please approach the Cochav Center