Salina ? The sounds of elephants stampeding and butterflies fluttering filled the Central Kansas Mental Health Center.

Leading the animal sounds, and eventually driving the elephants away, was Rick Baussman, of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. Baussman uses percussion instruments as part of a rhythmic therapy curriculum.

Baussman was brought to Salina by Elizabeth Caselman and Ingrid Pohl, both of Innovative Connections, an early childhood development organization, to teach classes on how rhythmic patterns can help people who have experienced trauma.

Baussman said the drumming helps children to listen, calm themselves and focus.

Attending a recent class were mental health clinicians, music teachers and special education teachers.

“We work with young children and were looking for something that helps with self-regulation and modulation of behavior,” Pohl said.

Caselman said she had studied the work of Dr. Bruce Perry, a famous neuropsychiatrist, about the effects of rhythmic drumming, and Caselman and Pohl wanted to attend a workshop on it. When they couldn’t find one, they brought in Baussman.

“We are anxious to start a program in Saline County where we can work with young children,” Caselman said.

The students will be able to use the instruments through a learning library where they can check them out.

Baussman said he started his program in the 1980s to help autistic children at a camp where he volunteered. By 1985, he was using his rhythmic-pattern drumming as a type of therapy for people of all ages, and he developed a program for children.

“I think we don’t give kids enough credit,” Baussman said. “Kids catch on very fast and the reason they catch on quickly through this medium is they really want to do it.”

During an exercise, Baussman uses a cowbell and whistle to lead participants on a musical elephant stampede and butterfly flight.

The butterfly portion of the exercise was light with fast music, even on the snare drums. The elephant music was heavy and slow, but it sped up during the stampede before slowing down to almost nothing as the elephants leave the area.

Baussman said children initially play the elephant stampede loud, but they learn to listen.

Baussman said the music helps children, even those with problems, work together. “This teaches them to become part of a community,” he said. “They are listening to each other, working on impulse control and self-esteem.”