X8 Drums Blog

In many cultures around the world, a drum represents the heartbeat of mother earth. It is the essence of the female and a way to connect with the divine mother in a rhythmic fashion. Drums are feminine, their beats replicating the inner rhythms of the earth and the cycles that change our seasons, our tides and our lives. Female drummers, whether they choose a djembe, a drum kit or a doumbek, are part of this connection, and as more and more opportunities for professiona …

Loving hand drums and those who love hand drums is perhaps one of the best parts of being a part of the X8 community of drummers. While we all may have our own reasons to encourage drumming, drum circles and the awesomeness of beating a djembe or conga drum, sometimes, the voice of the masses must be heard. In the spirit of drumming and to honor those within the X8 drum community on Facebook, we wanted to get some insight into why our fans and customers are out there …

Those who play and enjoy the didgeridoo know that creating the low, keening sounds on the instrument can relax and inspire you. The instrument, made from hollowed out wood or PVC pipe, is played using breathing techniques that improve as the user gets better through practice. What an avid player of the didgeridoo might not expect is that the instrument and the breathing techniques could help you get a better nights rest and solve the rising problem of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep a …

As a young child, your first foray into art was when your parents put a single crayon into your hand. Pulling out pads of paper, you drew dogs, cats, and your family surrounded by a beaming sun and endless blue sky. Your first musical instrument could have been a butter container and a spoon, an activity put together by your mother to entertain you for hours. Whether a child is creating their first painting or dancing to a children's tune on the radio, Art and music have long since been th …

Fighting cancer is one of the scariest trials a person can confront. It is physical, but also requires a tremendous amount of mental endurance, emotional strength and the spiritual fortitude. For those diagnosed with cancer, the fear of declining health and anxiety over a potential long road to recovery can further compound symptoms. Thoughts run around the lives of family members, financial issues and the entire process of confronting a disease. This stress and anx …

With funding to education being cut nationwide, most schools are focusing on reading and math as a consequence of the Center on Education's policy, No Child Left Behind. Because funding overall is limited, money that had previously supported programs in physical education, the arts, and other areas of study is disappearing in favor of state-tested subjects. Student on bongos learns the benefits of improving their talents through practice and dedication. However, schools are mak …

The side of the Cajon drum that is crafted out of specific wood or fiberglass material, also known as the frontplate, is the actual playing area of the drum. The side with a hole cut into it is typically the back siding of Cajon drums and is the portion that is positioned perpendicular to the Cajon drum head or parallel to the head depending on the drum style. The tapping region on the Cajon drum is further identified as tapa or drum head. When an individual plays Cajon, he or she po …

The rhythm we're going to do on this 10" Djembe today is called Sinte. Sinte is a rhythm that is used traditionally with young ladies for celebration, sometimes for initiation purposes. In the United States the rhythm is usually used for celebration. Sinte is like a Lamba feel or a 4/4 type of feel. The break begins the rhythm, changes the dancers and ends the rhythm. For this particular song, it is a different kind of break, so watch the break. [RHYTHM PERFORM …

Djembe Buying Guide: Part 8, Tuning Your Djembe Learn how to tune your rope tuned djembe. In this lesson you will get step by step instructions on how to create diamonds with the extra rope on your drum in order to tighten the drum head. Understand what a tuned djembe should sound like and get advanced instructions on how to create a second row of diamonds for drums that need extra tightening. Lastly you will learn how to wrap the extra rope around your drum once you …

Music therapy has shown significant improvements for those with disabilities and impairments that affect daily living. From newborn babies to the elderly, music reaches places within the mind that ordinary medicine or therapies cannot touch. Schools may be the easiest system to expose children to the benefits of music and drumming therapy. Research has shown that drumming is an effective way to increase the access of music therapy for children, citing the ease with which children a …