Jim Donovan Drums

The Rhythm of Life Workshop
Life-Optimization Through Drumming
In this unique and interactive drumming workshop you will learn easy and effective ways to release stress, increase the quality of everything you do and positively transform your life.

with Jim Donovan
Award winning teacher, performer and founding member of the multi-platinum band Rusted Root

Photo by Kaylyn Oshaben

Let's be honest, the skills and habits you develop during your college years will affect your life for decades to come.
To get the most out of all the money you're spending on your education, you need effective strategies to help you optimize your everyday life.
You deserve a strong foundation that will help you for years to come.
If you'd like to learn how to create the life YOU WANT,
Jim Donovan has some ideas for you....


The Rhythm of Life Workshop gives you easy-to-use tools that will make your everyday life better.

You will learn how to:
1. Quickly and effectively release stress.
2. Focus on any task you have to increase the quality of your work.
3. Optimize your daily patterns to maximize your efficiency and energy.
4. Release fear and be in your power.


Solutions and strategies you can use everyday:

Be Healthy.
You will learn easy and effective visualization and breathing techniques to quickly relieve stress and become relaxed anytime.

Be Here Now.
You will experience the value of being "in the zone" and learn ways to use this idea to affect the quality of every experience you have.
Learning to focus attention at will is a key skill of masterful people.

Be in Charge.
You will learn how the cumulative effect of your daily choices affects your health, efficiency and quality of life in the long term.

Be ALL IN.
You will learn how to let go of the fears that hold you back from getting what you truly want in life.


Anyone regardless of musical ability will benefit from and enjoy this experience.
You will leave the workshop feeling peaceful, grounded, invigorated, and alive.

Drums and percussion provided. Beginners warmly welcomed!


Jim Donovan is an award winning teacher and performer. He was a founding member and driving force of the multi-platinum band Rusted Root from 1990-2005. In 2008, Donovan was named Drum Circle Facilitator of the Year by the readers of Drum! Magazine.

He is the author of the soon-to-be-released inspirational book "Serving the Groove".

He has studied and played African drums with various master drummers such as Congolese master drummer Elie Kihonia and Mamady Keita. He also studied African music with noted scholar Kwabena Nketia from Ghana.  He has researched traditional African music for over 20 years via performance, readings and field recordings, and has continuously integrated his findings into all his music both as a solo recording artist and with Rusted Root.

As a solo artist and teacher, Donovan has released 6 highly acclaimed solo CD's as well as 4 instructional drumming CD's. Including his newest release Rhythm Seeds : Jam Along Audio Tool CD.

Fulfilling his desire to share the power of rhythm first hand, Donovan built a series of educational drumming workshop programs that he teaches across the US and Europe at universities, festivals, schools, corporations, and specialty venues. He is a full time instructor of music at Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA, the current director of the Saint Francis University World Drumming Ensemble. and the director of The annual Summer Rhythm Renewal Drumming Retreat.

Donovan is also a featured monthly columnist in Drum! Magazine.