Anyone walking past Koshy’s Chill Out on Sunday evening would have heard the joyful noise coming from the crowded ice cream parlour. A motley bunch got together for Bengaluru’s first public drum circle, organised by World Music Center. In the room full of non-musicians, the first drum beats were nothing but noise, but soon the participants found a groove, led by facilitator K Mohan Gopinath.

“This is the first event of its kind open to the public,” said Sangeetha Srikishen, who heads World Music Center. “Our aim is to help you get a hang of the rhythm, while participating in a community activity where you play an instrument and pass it on. It’s fun and it’s a great stress buster,” she said, adding, “Nobody is a learned musician here, but we all have rhythm in us. It’s not a teacher-student kind of thing; just spot improvisation. It’s about getting out of your shell and exploring your creativity.”

And sure enough, a lot of creativity was unleashed. Djembe, Targuka, Duff, Thombak, Maracaus, Khanjira and even a large red bucket were passed around, as the crowd tapped out a rhythm, until it rose to a crescendo. “It was a unique experience,” said Martine Dugue, a participant. “I would have never tried something like this on my own. But since everybody was playing the instruments for the first time, I didn’t feel shy. I started out at the back of the room, and ended up right in front beating a big drum.”

Rapper/MC King Jassim added some music to the beats, leading the crowd with his powerful vocals. “It was very much like street music. I’ve participated in drum circles before with fellow musicians, but I liked the mixed crowd. It was surprising to see how well they synchronised,” he said.

The man of the hour, Gopi gave up the stage to enthusiastic participants. “I am not here to set the beats, but to let the crowd find their own. The atmosphere I’m trying to create is one where people can let down their hair and have fun,” he said.