The Complete Guide To Buying A Djembe Drum

Shopping for djembe drums can be daunting, if you don’t know what you need. A drum's personality is created by its size, tuning mechanism, shell composition and head type. The drum is your voice; hence, it should be an extension of yourself. By studying the buying guide, you will learn a lot about the subject, ensuring that you pick the perfect drum to suit your needs.

Deciding on the Shell Material

Djembes can be made in many varieties of shell, including both synthetic and natural materials. You need to consider what type of environment you will be playing in when you make your decision. If you opt for a natural or wood body material, it has to be one that was specifically treated to prevent rot or bugs in the drum. 

Use caution when purchasing a traditionally made drum, as this can sometimes be a problem in some parts of the world. Most major manufacturers use a form of fiberglass to form the body of the drum. These man-made drums are quite sturdy; they play well and hold up admirably despite poor conditions. The tonal qualities are slightly different and less “earthy” but you can still project just fine when you play.

How to Choose a Good Drum Head

According to custom, the head of a djembe drum consists of animal skin, typically from a goat. They are adequate, especially for traditional drums, but they do need additional maintenance. The best drum head for a dry environment is made of natural skin, which has a sound that is very rich. 

However, if you live in a climate with higher humidity, you may want to opt for a drum that has a synthetic drum head instead. Most synthetic heads are made of Mylar, or other types of polyester films. A synthetic head is designed to reproduce the tone and feel of its natural counterpart; additionally, it sounds great when used in the studio. 

Heads made of man-made materials work well in nearly any weather conditions - a versatile advantage that distinguishes them for players who aren't professionals.

Selecting a Tuning Method

Most drums that are manufactured use mechanical tuning, meaning that not rope, but bolts are used. This is a popular design since it is very easy to understand the way to tune and put on different drum heads -- just unscrew the bolts then take off the head. 

In terms of a drum tuned with rope, additional practice is required. If your tuning is like this, you need professional assistance for the first few times so you can become skilled with the tuning procedure and skin changing. You don’t want to damage your drum by tuning it incorrectly!

A more common method is rope tuning and if the head is natural, this makes the sound more special and authentic.

Using Djembe Drums for Music Therapy

Hand-crafted African djembe drums are beautiful musical instruments with an interesting sound. Not just that, these drums are useful for therapy and recovery. Rhythm is an important element of the human experience, starting with the sound of the mothers heartbeat while still in the womb. Drum therapy develops that sensation to further promote healing.

Music therapy with djembe drums can be employed in many different institutional surroundings. For example, school kids of every age group like a session of playing rhythm musical instruments. However the gain goes over and above simple pleasure. Making music has been discovered to be beneficial to a child's intellectual advancement in addition to minimizing stress levels, both facts that make drumming useful as a therapy for youngsters with problems like ADHD, mental retardation, or physical difficulties.

The djembe drum extends back about seven hundred years, where it was initially created in the African country of Mali. The craftsman carves the drum from a single length of tree trunk and tops it with an animal skin drum head. The drum was designed to fit between the legs of the player and be drummed on with the hands. Musicians can learn conventional rhythms or play depending on the way they feel.

Drum circles can be used various kinds of therapy. When employed in an organization, the feeling of community aids the music in generating well being. Drum circles have been seen to be useful for stroke victims, cancer sufferers, people attempting to break addictions, and other individuals young and old who are dealing with difficulties. Drums are used with Alzheimer's patients and it's thought that drumming may even assist the immune system.

In the drum circle, the lead djembe drummer will often lay out the rhythm for the circle, with other instruments following his lead. Other instruments used include rattles, shakers, bongo drums, rhythm sticks, and tambourines. Schools often buy the instruments in classroom kits to ensure that there will be something for everyone to play.

When selecting a djembe drum, it is essential to think of the size of the person who'll be playing it. Heights of the drums range from 12 to 28 inches with the diameter of the head increasing proportionately. The drum should rest on the floor or chair when the player is seated. The top of the drum really should be located 3 or 4 inches above the lap. Consequently, the smallest children ought to be equipped with the shortest size of djembe drums.

Activities for Your Child During the Summer - Drumming Workshops

If you have children and are trying to decide what to do for the summer holiday with them, why not consider a drumming workshop. This activity is very well known in the UK schools and it can be a great pleasure for children no matter how old they are.

Drumming Workshops Explained

Drumming workshops are classes or programs that teach children how to do a specific style of drumming, often indigenous drumming which makes use of hand drums like the djembe drum. The instructor may teach children the art of indigenous Djembe drumming from Africa for instance. Specialized instructional organizations and music schools throughout the UK offer workshops to schools and youth groups. Some benefits drumming workshops have as children's summer activities are as follows.

Fun and Creative

Drumming provides an activity for children that is both creative and fun. It is something they always seem to enjoy. This will make summer that more interesting for them. Most kids are attracted to drumming and have a natural rhythm. Nothing gets a child's creative juices flowing like making music, and they will have a lot of fun banging a djembe drum along with other children. They may, for instance, begin composing their own drum beats and making up their own songs to go with the drumming they are doing.

Excellent for Exercise and Coordination Skills

Drumming can help develop coordination in your youngster and be good exercise in general. Muscular control and exertion involves coordinated hand eye motion. It can be beneficial and fun to get children outside when it's summer, and being a parent you are sure to understand this. The last thing you want is them hanging around the house all day long playing their video games or staring at the television. On various levels, drumming is a very healthy activity. A lot of drumming workshops are held outdoors.

Culturally Educational

Indigenous drumming can teach a child much about the various cultures that developed the instrument and style of drumming. Therefore, it is a beneficial experience that contributes to children's cultural and educational growth by providing them with education and exposing them to diverse customs. It will introduce children to new cultures, with their unique practices and customs. A drumming workshop is a great way to demonstrate both cultural diversity and an underlying continuity since music is a common thread that binds people of many different backgrounds together.

Place to Grow Socially

Drumming workshops allow for social interaction and let children have fun and make friends. These groups often take the form of people sitting in a circle and doing the drumming activity. By drumming they may be able to meet both other children and adults that they have not known before. They will get to expand their horizons by meeting new people.

You Can Also Do This at Home.

Purchasing the same type of drum that is used for teaching will allow you to continue to educate and entertain your child at home when the workshop has ended. Enrolling in a subsequent workshop will allow them to demonstrate what they have learned as well as practice drumming on their own and improve on it. When school starts again, they can keep up with the drumming in their spare time

Music: Advantages of Learning to Play a Musical Instrument

It has long been acknowledged that music is a form of self expression and creativity. Music is universally enjoyable whether you are involved in playing an instrument, singing or just watch and listening. Because of the many benefits of being involved in music and playing a musical instrument just shows why it is a good idea to get children involved as young as possible. Encouraging children to learn an instrument such as the djembe drum will be a sure way to get them interested in music and having fun. Keep reading to uncover a few of the advantages to youngsters of learning to play a musical instrument:

Confidence and Discipline

It is often difficult to teach young children discipline and concentration. This is something which both parents and teachers struggle with at times. Learning to play a musical instrument can encompass both these principles. Many children can benefit from the discipline that comes with practicing an instrument every day. The reward for practicing comes from the fulfillment of playing competently.

Your child may be reluctant to begin with but once they master the technique, through perseverance, they will experience a great sense of achievement. As they continue to practice their confidence will grow. As you child gets more confidence at playing they may wish to join a drumming circle or school band.

Improving Coordination and Creativity

Because of the nature of djembe drums they make ideal children's musical instruments. Enjoyment can be gained instantly from creating different rhythms and tones. Lessons or a training DVD are a good idea for picking up the basics. They are then free to express their creativity and play their own music.

Coordination can be dramatically improved through playing the djembe drum or any other instrument. As coordination improves so will their playing ability. Good coordination makes future development and the options open to a children more favourable.

Cultural Awareness

The djembe drum, like many other musical instruments, has evolved from being an integral part its culture. Traditional djembes in particular will help children to understand different cultures through the use and construction of these instruments. Having cultural awareness is an invaluable quality for a youngster to have in today's increasingly diverse societies. Playing an instrument which has derived from another culture is a great place to start.

Care and Respect for Possessions

It is common for children to lose interest in toys. Introducing your child to a musical instrument will teach them to value their belongings. While small Djembe drums are not particularly expensive, responsibility is a vital skill for all children to learn. Being responsible for possessions and valuing them will help a child to develop into a pleasant person.

How You Benefit from Joining a Drumming Circle

Drum circles are a traditional way to celebrate, mourn, heal, and meditate, and they have been around for thousands of years. In recent years, it is common to find people gathering and playing a wide variety of drums together at festivals and other occasions. 

Drum circles are also often held as workshops where people of all ages can join in with different drums and percussion and learn what it is like to connect with the rhythm.

Anthropology tells us that the earliest native peoples got together to make music and to share stories and celebrate. Additionally, drumming was a method of communication between communities. Drumming continues to remain a part of native cultures around the world.

Participating in a drum circle can be very relaxing and it is easy to fall into a meditative state while playing. The heartbeat of the base tones’ vibrations can actually cause your body to relax and unwind, if you allow it. The activity level of drumming is dependent on the style of music that is being played. Drum circles focus on all types of people and many groups cater to senior citizens and children. These circles allow them to not only make music, but also enjoy the therapeutic side of the activity and the enjoyment of community. Sometime a drum can be quite difficult to play, so for those that are having difficulty playing one, other instruments, such a shakers, claves, and even guiro can be used.

Drum circles can also be used to promote healing. Drumming can be used as physical therapy or even as a means of expression for those who may not be able to communicate with words, for example children with speech difficulties or even conditions like autism. When drumming, everyone has a voice and all are equal.

Another way to build community is to hold drum circles. By their nature, they bring people together, to dance, sing, play and share. A drum can be played so that it says a lot of different things, much like having a conversation. The steady low heartbeat carries an undertone of stability and accented hits using higher tones can punctuate.

When you drum with a group, you will also become a better percussionist. As you drum with other people, it is easy to forget that you have to listen to what's going on. Some drummers do not take into account any of the other players in their group. By listening for changes, you can adjust your playing to keep to the natural ebb and flow that happens in a drum circle. After you've been at it for a while you could find that you are leading and helping the drum circle change into various tempos and rhythms.

Guide to African Percussion and Drums

Currently many drums and musical instruments come from Africa. It is a custom to use African instruments like drums as well as percussion for communication and celebration. Many kinds of percussion instruments, including drums, are widely used in Africa, some styles being more common among the people than others. Along with the variety of drum styles, many different decorations for the drums themselves are available as well, allowing you to personalize your instrument.

The Djembe Drums

The tradition calls for djembe drums to be crafted out of one hollowed-out section of wood. The drum is shaped something like an hourglass, with a head that is usually constructed from goat skin. Traditional djembe drums are tuned using a rope braided around the drum shell, while more contemporary styles are made from synthetic materials. This drum is very versatile, with a wide range of sounds produced from a single-headed drum.

An Overview of Dundun Drums

In terms of their configuration, dundun drums resemble a hollowed-out cylindrical shape. The Dundun drum has two heads, and is rope tuned. The tonal qualities of the drum are determined by the diameter, length and thickness of the drum’s walls. 

The sound of the drum is also impacted by the head's thickness and material. Dunduns are played with either a stick or bare hands. Quite often, a bell is attached to the side of the drum. Traditionally, it is played sideways; one hand plays the head while the other hand plays the bell.

An Overview of Kpanlogo Drums

Originating from Ghana, kpanlogo drums look a bit different than other drums from Africa. While in shape, the body of the drum resembles a contemporary conga instrument, in reality, pegs are used to secure the ropes. Rope lining the instrument from its top to its pegs makes this drum distinctive in appearance. In its dimensions and tone, variations in the drum are possible; bigger drums yield lower tones. One individual in a group can play up to four separate kpanlogo drums at the same time.

An Overview of Hand Percussion Instruments

There is quite a bit of variation when it comes to smaller percussion or drum instruments played by hand. Agogo bells, wood blocks, shakers of various styles, cabassas and even maracas all originated from Africa. 

These unique instruments add flavor and a variety of voices when played in a group, taking any ensemble to the next level. 

Hand percussion is also very useful for including others in playing music. Kids, elderly and disabled people can participate in the auxiliary percussion as members of drum circles, shows and celebrations.

Musical Instruments from around the Globe

The world is a large and diverse place and every country has its own customs, dress and language. The countries of the world also differ in the instruments we play. Each is highly unique and played all over the world. This article features some of the most well known instruments and the country of their origin:

The United States

Famed for its Country and Western music, America’s most famous instrument is the Banjo. The banjo has become a symbol of South American heritage and has become increasingly popular all around the world. The banjo has been popular in American music for over 200 years.

African Instruments

Africa is well known for its range of musical instruments, in particular the djembe drum. This type of African instrument, pronounced ‘jem-bay’, was originally played in religious ceremonies but is now a regular feature in many drumming circles and schools.

India

North India is well known for the Sitar. The sitar is a type of guitar which has seven strings. This instrument is popular all over the world and is taught in schools in the UK and US.

Spanish Instruments

The Flamenco has made Castanets one of Spain's most famous instruments. Through a series of rhythmic clicks these instruments are used to accompany the Flamenco dancing. Tradition dictates that they are made of hardwood, although fibreglass alternatives are becoming increasingly more common.

Instruments from Scotland

The musical instrument Scotland is most famous for is the bagpipes. This instrument is recognised the world over, for its unique sound and appearance. The bagpipes originated as an accompaniment to dances. The fact that the bagpipes are known for being difficult to play makes them even more appealing.

Australia

Australia is synonymous with music and wildlife. The didgeridoo is probably the most famous musical instrument. The didgeridoo saw a recent resurgence in popularity thanks to popular television personality and musician, Rolf Harris.

You soon realise how diverse the world's musical instruments are. Learning about the music and instruments played by different cultures tells us a lot about their lives and traditions so introducing some of these instruments into schools is a great way to educate children.