This is another of those classes that Tom and Dave had talked about running for years but weren't ever able to fit into the schedule. Now, sort of unexpectedly, it's just moved gently into place. Seems like the thing to do anyway.This class is an ambitious one. Two hours a night for a week is just barely enough time to cover what's been planned. We'll start by exploring the history and development of percussion and frame drums in particular, with all the variations of design influenced by the environment and available tools. The influence of various drumbeats, both heard and played, will also be explored each night with exercises that connect and build up to the Drum Dance Prayer on Friday night.
The making of frame drums, both circular and multi-sided, will be thoroughly examined and demonstrated under various conditions, from the primitive level to the hatchet level to using modern tools. Some examples of various multi-sided drums and hoop drums that are a decade or two old will be looked at for any design flaws or durability issues that have arisen over time. Primitive bending techniques as well as constructing and using a steam box will also be covered and demonstrated.
The spiritual aspect of drumming will be a part of every night of course. We'll be exploring Drum Tea, Energy Transfer using the Drum, Presence Identity/Form and Drumming (Dancing with the Ancients), Tapping into the Voice of the Earth (with a side trip into the Schumann resonance), Drumming the Light through the Temples of the Soul (Drum Ceremony), Drumming You Know My Heart, and more depending on time constraints.
There will also be an in-depth look at the drumbeats Tom used for the Journey Drum, Mourning Drum, Apache War Drum/Gathering of Warriors, Spirit Calling drum, Healing Drum, Primal Self drum/chant, and a few more. That will lead us into the relation between "beats per minute" (BPM) and Hertz, with an eye towards the Beta/Alpha/Theta/Delta brainwave frequencies that Tom first speaks of in Philosophy 1, which will then allow us to explore the idea of entrainment.
Each night some time will be spent on the process of learning to drum, with a brief exploration of the 13 essential rudiments and how to read drum notation. We'll hear an interview with a long-time music studio producer/drum circle facilitator and also a music teacher/bass player/percussionist who spent decades instructing children and adults in the ways of drumming.
And with the number of studies undertaken to understand the emotional, physical and cognitive benefits of drumming, we'll take advantage of that research to use drumming to decrease stress and anxiety, boost brain function and comprehension as well as improve communication between the left and right brain hemispheres and of course improve physical coordination.
It's going to be a good class, whether you are just a beginner or a seasoned percussionist. We hope you can join us in this drum journey!
