I use a lot of old rock hits and other well known songs like "Beat It", "All She Wants to Do Is Dance", "One Love", "We Will Rock You", and "Respect". I often suggest a pattern for the patients to imitate (fast, slow, switching hands, hitting the sides of the drums, making a pattern on the top of the drum, etc) but also encourage them to do whatever sounds good. Some can only use one hand, some clap or tap their feet. Some dance or sing.
We also chat about the songs as they come up on shuffle.
My last song is always "Jump In the Line" because they are warmed up and we can end on a high note. The song gives directions so we shake our sticks, hit them together, dance, and sing as a group until the final verse.
