Making Your Own Drum
It's ceremonial from start to finish
Making a drum from elements of nature is one of the most magical experiences. The process alone has many teachings and unites our hands, heart, and spirit into the whole creation. Once the drum has been dried and awakened, it brings nature to life again. It is a true re-birth that links us to the rhythm of mother earth in a very powerful way.
I made my first drum 5 years ago with a shaman from Austin, TX. I learned about the sacredness of its creation and the ceremonies to awaken and honor the drum. I also learned something about myself. When I awakened this drum, it awakened something deep within me. I wanted to connect with the healing powers of the drum and share that healing with others.
That Christmas I gifted a drum kit to my mom and together we made a drum for her. She took to the experience like I did, and started making drums with women in her community. She now leads weekly drum circles in Waverly Hall, GA and we have taught several drum making classes together. Over the past few years we have made drums with other members of our family and it has become a very special bond for us. We all live in different states, but we remain connected through our drumming.
Stages of making a frame drum
Over a year ago an oak tree from my family’s farm in Texas was struck down during a tornado. When the trunk fell over, my family realized that the inside had rotted away and was hollow in the middle. I told my dad to save the trunk and that next time I came to the farm we would make a drum together.
Making this drum with my dad was very special. It was a way for us to preserve the memories of the farm and the beautiful oak tree that was the centerpiece of the land. As we chipped away at the bark and stretched the hide over the trunk, I realized the connection I had with the land, plants, and animals. We are all linked through rhythm. The rhythm of the land — the vegetables in the fields, the seasons that cycled through, the roaming chickens, the sunflowers awakening at dawn, the farmer’s hands in the soil– is now echoed into this drum every time we play. The drum is now the heartbeat of the farm.
The drum gave the gift of voice to this tree, as it does for all other trees that become part of a drum. It is a voice we can all hear and feel. The voice of the tree and the animal (if an animal hide is used) make a unique sound that only that drum carries. No two drums are exactly the same. When you play the drum (with your hands, mallets, or sticks) you are activating that voice and allowing your own rhythms to weave into the sound, sending it outward in the form of vibration. This is how the drum transmits healing.
The power of the drum can be felt by everyone. Creating a drum on your own can enhance its healing power. It truly is a magical experience and expression of your own inner creativity. If you are interested in creating your own drum come to one of my Ceremonial Drum Making Workshops or email me for resources on other people in different areas that also teach drum making.
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