PRESS NOTE

Add a new beat to thinking out of the box

Begin the new academic year with a refreshing start. Let’s think out of the box and while doing so, lets have some fun with music too… This is what Arthur Fernandes has to say about his session at the International Centre Goa.

Everyone is welcome to the motivational talk and provoking your thoughts out of the box followed by a pulsating Drum circle, this Thursday, 30th May, evening at the ICG Donna Paula.

Pune based Goan, Arthur Fernandes, a psychologist & Arts based therapist encourages everyone to a session on Self motivation, handling emotion & depression, understanding, accepting and learning behavior, thinking out of the box integrated with various activities. He says “Everyone needs motivation and encouragement at all times, this helps them handle work pressures & cope with stressful situations and to accept oneself and appreciate along with maintaining healthier relationships. It also encourages one to think differently with a positive outlook to solve problems creatively” A graduate in abnormal and developmental psychology and a masters in Industrial psychology, Arthur Fernandes has conducted many sessions and has counseled in schools and collages in Bombay, Pune and Goa as well as his clinics in Pune.

A Musician and a Singer, Arthur Fernandes uses Music as a therapy. A Drum Circle is one such form of positivity. Hailing from Ponda, Arthur is responsible to introduce the concept of Drum Circle in Goa and has been getting an applauding response for the same. A Drum Circle is a joyful celebration of rhythm! Group drumming can be a fun and effective way to reduce stress, connect with oneself and others, live in the moment, and build musical skills. Arthur’s facilitation makes drumming engaging, accessible, and meaningful for all ages, all levels. A large selection of drums and percussion instruments like djembe’s, shakers, frame drums, tambourines etc… for the use of the session will be provided to you. The jovial Arthur adds.. “I facilitate a Drum Circle, I don't conduct it. I introduce and teach everyone a basic beat and they make their own music. Even if you haven’t played or didn't know how to play an instrument before in your life, by the end of a session everyone is a musician. You now know that you can make music together and interact with others on a completely different level altogether. The ultimate goal is not precise rhythmic articulation or perfection of patterned structure, but is an ancient approach that uses rhythm to promote healing and self-expression.” Drum Circles provide with rejuvenating health rhythms with group drumming sessions for mind-body wellness and personal growth. It stimulates immune functioning, physical activity, and mind-body awareness. It helps to strengthen team bonds while relieving stress, relaxing and re-energizing.

Getting back to his roots in Goa arthur adds “Goa has so much to offer. The Konkani language has a tune of its own. Even English spoken by a Goan has a musical note to it.”

His Love for Goa has brought him back confirms Arthur who concludes saying “I want to share the beat with Goa through a Drum Circle.” His session on motivation, handelling emotions and thinking out of the box followed by a Drum Circle will be held this Thursday, 30th May 2013, at the ICG, Donna Paula from 4pm to 7pm. For details you could get in touch with Ms. Vividha Sawant – 2452805-10 (Ext. 605)/ pro@incentgoa.com

Profile – ARTHUR FERNANDES

Arthur Fernandes has graduated in Abnormal and Developmental Psychology and completed his Masters in Industrial Psychology from Fergusson College, Pune.

As a child, he developed a fond liking for music at the age of six and has been inspired ever since. He went on to perform for his school and college and played an integral part in featuring them on the national level competition charts. He has achieved National level certificates for fine art, been awarded for outstanding contribution & performance in music in Fergusson College & awarded as a leader in the group for organizational skills and contributed to the success of the cultural program and a session in the soft skills development course conducted under the guidance of the Pune University.

He further on worked in the Human Resource at Infosys BPO in the Employee Relations Department and handled one of the largest profiles there. He was responsible for Employee Engagement, Employee Assistance, Employee Emergencies / Health Management, Employee Induction for over 5000 employees in the BPO sector. He has also led and managed large events successfully at zero budget. Through his years of experience in music, he has learnt that music is a universal language and can heal. He uses music as the core for counselling, workshops or motivational talks. He is a certified Arts Based Therapist and facilitates Drum Circles on a large scale for communities, NGO’s and corporates, in Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore and Goa.

Apart from this he is a Musician, a Drummer and also plays the guitar and keyboard. He teaches the same. He is a singer and a soloist for a professional choir for the past 13 years and has been performing for various concerts. He has done recordings for albums in the music industry, one of them being for Kunal Ganjawala.

Being a certified Arts Based Therapist, he has worked as a Counsellor and an Arts Based Therapist at St. Andrews School, Pune and has conducted workshops and sessions on Motivation, Confidence Building, Decision Making and Sex Education in various schools and colleges in Pune, Mumbai and Goa. He offers his services at Mother Theresa’s Home - Pune, as an Arts Based Therapist and is also helping an NGO to conduct Life Skills Training Programs in various schools. He is a guest faculty at Indira Institute of Management, Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Engineering College, Pune and teaches the MBA HR students. He has also been invited by Sophia’s College, Mumbai, and other schools in Goa and conducted sessions and workshops on Motivation, Handling emotions and Thinking Out of the Box.

Being a Music Therapist, he facilitates Drum Circles for all populations and corporates. He has been featured on Radio and print media in Goa, like the Navhind Times, The Times Of India, Lokmat, The Herald, etc. HCN NEWS, Goa, has aired a half an hour documentary on his work and plans to introduce Drum Circles as a form of music therapy in Goa. He has facilitated Drum Circles extensively in Pune, Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore. And also for various corporates like Vodafone, Xerox, Oracle, AMDOCS, Druva Software, Adventure Pulse, Peoples Edge and so on to name a few. He makes group drumming a fun and effective way to reduce stress, connect with oneself and others, live in the moment and build musical skills. His facilitation makes drumming engaging, accessible, and meaningful for all ages and all levels.

He is on the Board of Trustees and the Director of Resource Mobilization for an NGO, The Academic Advisors. He also practices as a counsellor and an Arts Based Therapist at his clinic. As a psychologist, he occasionally assists in solving cyber crime cases too.

DRUM CIRCLE BRIEF

A Drum Circle is any group of people who come together, gather in a circle to play Hand Drums, Djembe’s / African conga’s, Frame Drums and other percussion instruments to make music. They are open to people dropping in without any equipment and without much training. It is a fun entry-level learning experience that is accessible to anyone who wants to participate. The ultimate goal is not precise rhythmic articulation or perfection of patterned structure, but is an ancient approach that uses rhythm to promote healing and self-expression. The most important thing in a drum circle is openness to learn. Furthermore, if you are the sort of person to whom words do not come easily, drumming may be your mode of communication. Drum Circles provide an extensive menu of interactive drumming programs to suit your event needs. It’s teambuilding, stress-relief, and hands-on entertainment—all rolled into one! It can be the ultimate form of stress relief for the ones who have stressful jobs like the police, ministers, faculty of schools, collages, institutes, corporate employees, middle and senior management and students too. It can also be integrated with various forms of art like music, dance, plays, recitals, fine art, concerts, institutes and corporate annual functions and community festivals and programs and be a highlight too...!!! Drum Circles provide with rejuvenating health rhythms with group drumming sessions for mind-body wellness and personal growth. It stimulates immune functioning, physical activity, and mind-body awareness. It helps to strengthen team bonds while relieving stress, relaxing and re-energizing.

MOTIVATION, HANDELING EMOTION & THINKIN OUT OF THE BOX

Introduction

One of the most important factors that lead an individual to their goals is the drive. This drive is known as motivation. It is a zest and determination with a kind of excitement that leads one to reach greater heights, in no matter what avenue of their life; be it – personal or professional. The drive may come from an internal or external source. The factors that motivate an individual keep changing as one climbs the ladder of age and maturity. And also, achievement of one’s goal sets the ball rolling for another one to be achieved. Thus, to be motivated is a constant need. There are times when one faces a period of de-motivation and everything seems bleak. This leads to extreme emotional distress and it is when one needs to find what would motivate them back into action. Thinking out of the box tickle the sense of creativity in them which would help them find ingenious ways to solve their problems and progress positively in life. This would in turn improve their personal, professional and social life.

Session Outline

The session would include the following:

• Self Motivation • Handling emotion, depression and suicidal tendencies • Understanding, acceptance and learning behaviour • Thinking out of the box • Activities based on thinking out of the box

Benefits

The session would help the participants learn in coping, acceptance and dealing with stressful situations around them. It would be a tremendous aid and would help them in various ways, few of which are mentioned below:

• Handling work, pressure and stressful situations • Self acceptance and appreciation • Maintaining healthier relationships • Creative problem solving skills and approaches • Being positive and thinking different • Stress relief

THANK YOU