The late Remo Belli was a pioneer in understanding that the manufacturing of musical instruments and accessories was not only essential to providing the best drumheads and drums for professionals in all genres of music—including orchestral, blues, rock, jazz, world music, and beyond—but he was also one of the first to recognize the importance of music, rhythm, and drumming in improving the human condition. What does that mean? It means helping individuals become better people, which, in turn, can contribute to creating a better world.
More importantly, helping a child discover how to process emotions and understand social behavior—such as how to interact with others—at an early age may result in thousands of children feeling more included and less excluded. Feeling excluded is a major factor in children not performing well in school. Helping a child feel good about themselves—before focusing on subjects such as math, science, and English—provides a much better chance of creating a more inclusive and healthier society. What better way is there to help people and young children develop much-needed emotional and social skills than through drumming and music? Over thirty years Remo set out to do just that. In 2002 REMO Inc. developed a Rhythm and Wellness division, led by a fulltime on staff Music Therapist, Board Certified. In 2025, the Rhythm and Wellness division is involved with Music Therapists and Drum Circle Facilitators throughout the Globe. Arianna Monge, MT-BC joined REMO in 2021 and is the Manager of the Rhythm and Wellness Division.
We're proud to recognize music teacher Valerie Vinnard for her insight to expand teaching music into helping young students become better humans, with less bullying, less excluding, and creating a safe healthy environment where kids support each other, accept each other, learn together, and drum together. Valerie is a student of HealthRHYTHMS, World Music Drumming, and Beat The Odds. Here is a little about her story:
Valerie Vinnard, M.M. is one of the many growing number of school teachers using music, rhythm, and drumming to create an optimum social and academic positive learning environment.
Valerie is a National Board Certified Teacher, two-time GRAMMY Music Educator Award Nominee, California Music Educator Association Peripole Award Winner Honoring Excellence in Classroom Music Education, and author of several scholarly music education articles.
Valerie uses her drumming with her TK through 5th Grade general education and special education students at her five elementary schools in Long Beach, Ca. She has noted many benefits drumming provides not only on a musical level, but socially and academically as well. She has chronicled student gains through drumming in her article: "The Classroom Drum Circle Project: Creating Innovative Differentiation in Music Education." Her other publications include "Cultivating the Fine Art of Social-Emotional Learning," "Music Education and its Crucial Role in Closing the Achievement Gap,' "Differentiation in the General Music Classroom, "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the General Music Classroom and Beyond," and "Exchange Field Trips."
Published:
Jan 23, 2025
Updated:
Jan 23, 2025
