Calendar of Events
Come join the circle of rhythm!
Look below for info on The Boulder River Rhythm Retreat, The Mindful Unplug Experience, and online & local classes.
The Boulder River Rhythm Retreat
At Camp Mimanagish
South of Big Timber, Montana
Thursday - Sunday, June 26 - 29, 2025
Click here for the registration page
Feel free to pass this email around and here's the Facebook event page link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1542784066428140.
We'd like to invite you to join Drum Brothers and friends for this special 4 day retreat. Our time together will include rhythm classes, song circles, and daily yoga and African dance classes. Each evening we'll gather for a community rhythm circle and in the mornings we'll be treated to a musical wakeup. Instructors for the event will be Matthew & Michael Marsolek and Tracy Topp of Drum Brothers.
All ability levels are welcome at this event. The drums call us to come together and celebrate the precious moments of life we've been given. There's nothing like having 4 days to enjoy the company of new friends and to take the rhythms deeper than ever. This is a time to get recharged with rhythm and community!
We'll be staying at beautiful Camp Mimanagish on the Boulder River. The water will be high this time of year and in the evening you can hear the rumbling of the rocks rolling on the river bottom! Weather permitting; we'll meet outside as much as we can. Of course, as with all of our retreats, we'll be fed great food. There will also be free time to enjoy the pristine scenery of the area. For lodging, participants will be bunking together in the many fine cabins available at Camp Mimanagish. There are separate men's and woman's cabins and some limited space for couples and families on a first come first serve basis. There are limited spots available on site for campers and trailers and many tent sites. Contact Matthew to see what spaces may be available: 406-531-8109.
Rhythm Exploration ~ Thurs - Sun (full retreat) - $564
Registration includes hand drumming classes for all levels, dance and movement classes, and lodging and meals.
We look forward to seeing you this June.
The Mindful Unplug Experience 2025
Movement, Rhythm, and Nature
Anne Jablonski with Matthew Marsolek and family
July 26 - Aug 2 at the Feathered Pipe Ranch, near Helena, Montana
This special event is filling quickly. So register soon to secure your spot! We'd love to have you with us.
Visit this page for all the details: https://www.mindfulunplug.com/
Note: The scholarship program is open from Feb 8 - 28 and there are moneys stll available! Click here for info.
Music, Rhythm, and Joy
For our 2025 running, we are happy to announce that along with his musically gifted family, the leader of Montana-based Drum Brothers, Matthew Marsolek, will be returning again for the entire Mindful Unplug week! Widely known for his warm and engaging teaching style, Matthew shares a sumptuous variety of heart-opening sessions built around participatory sound, rhythm practices, and voice awareness. Simple guided exercises that open and free the voice, frequent song circles utilizing chants and songs gathered from his world music studies, and body rhythm practices are only a small sample of the rich palette of offerings this profoundly skilled teacher can share during our time together.
Mindful Movement, Meditation, Freedom Yoga, and Nature
Mindful Unplug den-mother and emcee Anne Jablonski guides daily yoga and mindful movement, dharma inquiry, meditation, and inspiring early morning forest immersion practices. Acknowledging that you are the primary architect for your own well-being, she uncovers creative ways that inspire you to become more friendly and intimate with your own inner landscape and wisdom within. Anne brings warmth and humor to sharing yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices, cultivating playful curiosity in your personal exploration of movement and contemplative wisdom traditions. Her intention is to have you return home with the tools and inspiration to reset mindfully and embrace a personal daily mindful movement and meditation practice.
The land itself is our common, sacred ground for the week and the preeminent teacher at the Mindful Unplug retreat. This program regards the natural realm not merely as an appealing backdrop that is separate from us, but as foundational to capital-k Knowing about our truest nature. A refreshing mountain lake inspires solace and reflection. Nearby trails in the surrounding National Forest weave through hills saturated with wildflowers and woods filled with aspen and aromatic pine. Mountains shape every horizon. Ravens, warblers, blackbirds, and pine siskins flit among trees and across meadows.
Online and Missoula Classes
Are you ready to get your groove on? It's time for spring drum classes.
Starting on March 25th, we're going to be continuing our In-Person hand drumming classes on alternating Tuesday nights! Click Here to fill out the In-Person Registration Form (Classes held at Free Cycles in Missoula). Feel free to email or call us with any questions: matthew@drumbrothers.com, 406-531-8109.
Look below for information on the schedule and class descriptions. If you have a heartbeat, you have rhythm!
IN-PERSON CLASSES ($16-20/class sliding scale) at Free Cycles in Missoula
LEVEL 1 Ongoing - A 6-class series taught by Matthew Marsolek on alternating Tuesday nights from 7:45 - 9:00 pm at Free Cycles in Missoula (732 S 1st St W). The dates will be: March 25, April 8 & 22, and May 6 & 20. This course is for drummers who've done at least one beginning series (Contact us if you're a new drummer and we'll get you up to speed!). We'll review all the fundamentals of West African drumming: rhythm awareness, tones and technique, and traditional and contemporary rhythms in the West African style. We don't start new class series that often, so now is a great time to jump in. Free Cycles has large open spaces with great sound and lots of room for drummers.
Free Cycles has large open spaces with great sound and lots of room for drummers.
LEVEL 2 Ongoing - Taught by Tracy Topp, this 6-class series will be on alternating Tuesday nights from 6:15 - 7:30 pm at Free Cycles in Missoula (732 S 1st St W). The dates will be: March 25, April 8 & 22, and May 6 & 20.
This series is for those who've taken at least one beginning class series. A familiarity with the tones and techniques of West African hand drumming is recommended. We'll review all the basics, including: techniques and the tones of the drum, rhythm awareness, drum language, and beginning rhythms. And well learn new intermediate ensemble rhythms in the West African style.
LEVEL 3 Ongoing - A 6-class series taught by Matthew Marsolek on alternating Tuesday nights from 6:00 - 7:15 pm at Free Cycles in Missoula (732 S 1st St W). The dates will be: March 25, April 8 & 22, and May 6 & 20.
This series will cover more advanced patterns, arrangements, and solo phrases and techniques. Students should be very familiar with the tones and techniques of hand drumming, know a repertoire of West African rhythms, and be able to pick up new patterns quickly.