Healing Drum Retreat

This is a story of finding a drum, or having a drum find you. Many choose their hide based on its totem properties.  Each tribe, nation, or culture has attributes assigned to each animal. Buffalo is thicker than elk, and it has a deeper resonance.   It vibrates at a rich tone.  Buffalo has been commonly [...]

We’ve talked before about the art of drum making.  The process is magical, seeing the matching of drum maker and hide, the weaving of the sinew and careful tightening, and the heartful anticipation of the sound that will emanate from this creation.  Challenges always arise as the drums are built, but somehow everything turns out [...]

One the questions that is asked is “where and when can I make a drum?” Great question, and easy to answer.  You can make a drum at the Healing Drum Retreat.  The next retreat is in March 2009.  Don’t wanna wait that long?  You can have a drum making party! For groups of five or [...]

Drum making takes skill and knowledge, but with the right teacher you can successfully make a drum that can last you a lifetime, with proper care. Ask anyone who does drumming, even the beginners.  They all will tell you that the drum has a life of its own.  It carries forward the lifeforce energy of [...]

Every drum has its unique quality, with no drum better than another. There are round, oval, six or eight sided. The hide could be elk, horse, cow, buffalo, or other leather. Drums vary in the thickness of the hide, with a thicker leather having a deeper tone. Thinner leather may have more resonance. It all [...]

The “beater” is the drumming stick used to resonate the drum. The basics are this: Beaters can be made of some type of hardwood. Types common in the pacific northwest include hazelnut and cherry. Some prefer a synthetic handle, like fiberglass. The head is typically hand sewn leather stuffed with batting of cotton or more [...]

Drums are usually made from a wooden ring covered with animal hide that is tightly strung together to form a tension. This tension creates the resonating tone. Leather is sensitive to the elements, and with proper care your drum can last many years, bringing pleasure and healing to all. Caring for your drum is a [...]