Today we’d like to introduce you to Ralph Hicks.
Ralph, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was fortunate to receive an excellent public school education in Spring ISD with a nationally recognized band program, earning a full scholarship to an internationally recognized percussion program at The University of Kentucky. While drumming was my passion, it was all through the lens of high stakes competition. I was on my way to world domination in the public school competitive drumming arena… when along came my nephew, Luke.
Luke was diagnosed on the Autism spectrum when he was around three. One Sunday I was with my family watching the Texans game, trying to get Luke to talk to me. He wouldn’t make eye contact, wouldn’t speak, and I got frustrated. I decided to give up and get another beer, drumming a “well that’s that” rhythm on my legs as I stood up. Luke stopped, put down his toy, slapped the same rhythm on his legs, then went back to his toy. I sat back down, tried it again, and he did it again! We had a good time for maybe a minute, then it happened. Not only did he look at me, he smiled and laughed. For that little window of time, we connected.
That experience led me to discover an entirely new way to connect with my community. Using educational percussion experiences in a non-competitive setting? WHAT?!?!?
Working with the Special Needs Department of Mitchell Intermediate in Conroe ISD and the Music Therapy Department at Sam Houston State University, we created a school program using interactive drum circles to integrate our special needs students with our typical students. Once a week I would give up a planning period and have a great time developing social skills and motor skills with some amazing kids! I was expecting positive emails from parents but was not at all prepared for the impact we had. One that stood out was a mother telling me “for thirty minutes a week, my son feels like a normal kid”.
One of our special needs teachers took a job at The Woodlands United Methodist Church and offered us facility use if I was interested in offering it to the general public! Fast forward five years, and we are now a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation with 225+ members bringing a joyful noise across Texas!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road, I realized too late the power in asking for help. Doing everything myself had served me well this far in my life, why would start a non-profit from scratch be any different? How hard could it be to fill out the IRS Form 1023 non-profit application on my own while keeping my full-time teaching job? Turns out, VERY.:)
It wasn’t until I started to delegate that I discovered I didn’t know how to. 🙂 The same vicious cycle would play itself out over several years. I ask someone to get involved, they excitedly agree, then I completely underutilize them. Can you make a flyer for me? Cool, thanks! Not like that. Not like that either. You know what, I’ll go ahead and knock it out myself. UGH!
It’s been a struggle but things are going great! What has really helped overcome this obstacle is 1) finding qualified people you trust and getting out of their way, 2) developing a clear and concise method of communicating tasks, and 3) remembering nobody can see inside my head and will never get it exactly like I see it.
Please tell us about Let Them Drum.
Let Them Drum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing unique group drumming experiences for all walks of life, creating a safe environment to share a common experience.
Drumming can relieve stress after work, or help calm an anxious child. It can help a parent released from prison reintegrate with their children when they aren’t ready to talk. Drumming is inherent in all of us, regardless of age, ability, or disability!
We have developed a reputation in the community for the place to be for high energy drumming with no stress or expectation. While our facilitators are all highly qualified percussion instructors and music therapists, drumming is actually the last thing we’re about:) Yes, you will have a good time getting your jam on.
But more importantly, our members develop character traits and motor skill functions that will serve them well into adulthood. Whether it be trash cans at a Houston Rockets halftime show, a steel band performance at a retirement home, or a street corner flash jam, it’s a better life when you Let Them Drum!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I had a picture-perfect childhood. Parents got along, siblings never fought, everyone loved and supported each other. Growing up in a small town, riding my bike everywhere, playing baseball, family trips, BAND, not always being plugged in, definitely too many precious memories to rank them. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: www.letthemdrum.org
- Email: rhicks@letthemdrum.org
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