Phil Didlake, MT-BC

A percussionist, music therapist, and inspiring community leader.

Phil Didlake, MT-BC is passionate about bringing teams and communities together through rhythm and music. Phil is a board-certified music therapist, percussionist, and drum circle facilitator.  

Phil discovered his passion for group drumming when he started the Livermore Drum Circle in the summer of 2009. Phil was then studying music at Las Positas College and was first introduced to the music therapy profession. At this time a community member stepped forward to help sponsor Phil to help him continue his higher education. Phil was then accepted into Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts in 2013. There he studied music therapy and the therapeutic applications of group drumming. 

While pursuing his studies at Berklee, Phil served as president of the New England Region - American Music Therapy Association for students and organized a weekly drum circle facilitation meetup. Phil was also featured in a Berklee press release recognizing inspiring students in the 2016 graduating class. 

After graduating, Phil Didlake moved back to his hometown where he continues to facilitate and organize the Livermore Drum Circle.

Phil pioneered new online and in-person drumming programs during the pandemic shutdown and founded Drum Innovation in 2020. Phil presented some of his discoveries at the American Music Therapy Conference (2021) and the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild Conference (2021 and 2022).

Phil has completed his mentorship under Arthur Hull and Christine Stevens MTW, MT-BC, and received specialized training in evidence-based drumming programs such as Village Music Circles, HealthRhythms, and Rhythm to Recovery.

Phil has recently developed a group drumming and beat-making program known as Rhythm Quest. Some of his past clients include Autodesk, Service Now, and Aruba Networks.