Women capture the beat of life in drumming group

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After children grow up and move out of the house, many mothers use that time for rest and relaxation. But Lynn Curtin and Marilyn Wilson, members of the drum duo Blondes Drum 2, are dedicating that portion of their lives to fulfilling their dreams.

“Sixty is our prime,” Curtin said. “Dreams never have to stop.”

Wilson said they are reinventing themselves in their early 60s and that they are women of the new millennium. 

“Sixty isn’t the time to stop; it’s the time to start,” Wilson said.

Blondes Drum 2 is about empowering women — especially young women. Wilson said drumming is a gift that brings people together.

“Around creativity you become creative,” Wilson said. 

The history of drumming can be traced back to use for therapy, and Wilson said drumming can help you de-stress and unite you with other people while lowering blood pressure. Curtin said drumming can also slow down breathing if you begin to feel anxious.

“It is impossible to think about much else while drumming,” Wilson said. “Everyone shares the energy vibrations.”

Drumming is all about community-building. Wilson said Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach are all very different communities, and she and Curtin act as a bridge to bring them all together through drumming.

“Drumming is about expanding the world around us and using drumming as a vehicle to tap into the community,” Curtin said.

Anyone can drum because you don’t need musical experience or need to know how to dance, Wilson said. 

Drumming is an awakening, she said, and it is their mission to get people out of themselves.

“Music is the universal language where we all begin,” Curtin said. We don’t want to lose it.”

Wilson said their trend of drumming is youthful, and Curtin said drumming gets you back to your young heart. They want to teach women to stop being invisible.

“Drumming allows us to touch people we normally wouldn’t touch,” Wilson said. 

'beauty of unity’

Curtin and Wilson do not only perform at drum circles. They perform at grand openings, birthday parties and private events.

Together, Wilson said they have about an hour to an hour and a half worth of music they play. They have already released one CD and are working on a second.

Wilson and Curtin write songs about female empowerment, strength and joy. 

“Before meeting Marilyn I hadn’t written a song in 20 years, and now I can’t stop writing them,” Curtin said. “We write well together.”

Wilson said song-writing is their bliss. They are constantly changing and reinventing themselves.

“Our goal is to create moments and circles of harmony as we build community and build bridges within each individual that will expand and extend out into the world, one or more persons at a time.” Wilson said. 

She said they are inspired and encouraged by all the support they get from the welcoming venues and other musicians and people who have followed their drumming since the beginning. 

“Because they kept showing, so did we, and that alone encourages us and motivates us to continue to believe in ourselves and the beauty of unity,” Wilson said.

For more information on Blondes Drum 2, go to blondesdrum2.blogspot.com.

Rachel Tannenbaum: (904) 359-4693