Beating to the Rhythm of Growth: How Drum Circles are Powering Student Development at Summit

At Summit School, the power of music isn’t just heard — it’s felt. This year, students participated in an innovative research project led by Dr. Eve-Marie Quintin, Associate Professor at McGill University and head of the BAND (Behavior, Autism, and Neurodevelopment) Lab. Her research focuses on the cognitive, social, and neural effects of music on autistic students — and her latest work brought the beat straight to our classrooms.

Using drum circles as a core activity, Dr. Quintin and her team are exploring how rhythm and beat perception can support development in language, motor function, and self-esteem. “We know that autistic students are very interested in music and often have strong musical skills,” she explains. “So we’re using this powerful tool to see if we can improve key areas of learning.”

The Summit program is part of a broader research initiative to understand how music is processed in the brain and how it can enhance educational outcomes. By training students in beat and rhythm perception, the research team is examining potential links to improved language development and motor coordination. Just as importantly, they’re looking at the emotional impact: “There’s a lot of personal growth that comes from learning an instrument and performing with others,” says Dr. Quintin.

The collaboration has extended beyond students. Dr. Quintin highlights the deep partnership with Summit’s music teachers and educators, describing it as a “rich and rewarding experience.” Together, the team has co-designed programming, adapted it to classroom realities, and gathered valuable feedback to strengthen the initiative.

For Dr. Quintin, Summit is more than just a research site — it’s a place that truly understands the role of the arts in neurodiverse education. “Unfortunately, that’s not the case everywhere in the world. With our study and with the work of Summit School, we hope to serve as advocates for the arts as an essential part of education for neurodiverse students.”

From joyful rhythms to quiet confidence, the drum circles at Summit are creating more than music — they’re building bridges between science, creativity, and student success.