X8 Drums Blog

Full drum circle at the Modern Drummer Festival today in NJ. Over an hour of great rhythm with some very talented drummers!Steve Campbell from Dancing Drum facilitated the drum circle at this year's Modern Drummer Festival in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. Over 50 people participated in the drumming just prior to the drum clinics hosted by Modern Drummer Magazine.The Djun Djuns and Djembes used in the circle were the Dancing Drum Signature Series by Tycoon Percussion. Other percussion instru …

In urban and suburban areas, the sounds of traffic and people and technology can be considered the pulse of the earth. These sounds punctuate the day as people attend business meetings, enjoy lunches with friends and unwind while watching evening television. These same people often retreat to more rural areas for vacations and getaways in order to escape a fast-paced, demanding lifestyle and reconnect with nature and the earth to reduce stress and relax. Aside from leaving …

Drums and percussion instruments have distinct personalities, in a sense, which can directly affect the drummer's ability to play within a drum circle, recording studio or on stage. Because of these differences in instruments, a drummer may face a difficult decision deciding which drum or percussion instrument is best for his or her particular style. Musical and drumming talent aside, one of the best ways to find your percussion soul mate is through the age-old practice of astrol …

Peter Marino is the One Hour Drummer!Degrees in Music and Music Education are the foundation for Peter's development of the "Kyo Method", a rhythmic protocol that has participants playing percussion in as many as 5 parts in as little as an hour. This simple and enjoyable learning method supports players at all skill levels and makes it possible for students to easily recall and play advanced rhythms that would normally take hours of practice to learn.Peter has developed a national …

Whether in the car, at a show, drum circle or in the comfort of one’s own living room, loud music is one of the guilty pleasures of fans and musicians alike. From the deep bass of rap and hip-hop to the screaming guitars of classic rock, if it’s too loud, you’re too old, so they say. The volume of music, however, is known to cause damage to the delicate anatomy of the ear. Hearing loss affects around 16 million Baby Boomers, a figure that is significantly impacted by the volu …

When listening to music, a variety of sounds and tones come together to create a multi-sensory experience that has a wide range of health and wellness benefits in addition to an emotional connection and the simple enjoyment of a song. Music therapists and educators have long since harnessed the power of music and rhythm to stress and anxiety, as well as draw people together much in the way the different parts of music combine within a song. While no one instrument is more …

Drumming, some say, is a distinct calling that requires a great deal of patience, dedication, and motivation. The act of drumming itself can illustrate the journey a drummer has taken to get to the point of performing in public through driving rhythms, emotional solos and the creation of a foundation for any other instruments to follow. This picture of a drummer is part of the draw to drumming, producing profound effects within the music and contributing to the overall fe …

The beat of a drum, the steady pounding of a rhythm as it carries the listener through a song, or encourages other drummers to beat out a complimentary cadence can be an amazing way to wind down, find inner peace or just have fun. With the day to day obligations that are faced by people, it can, ironically, be hard to find the time or motivation to get into the drumming groove. As a service to the public, we present five fun and relatively unconventional ways to include d …

Regardless of how gently you treat your ‘babies’, sooner or later every hand-drum player will reach a point where the skin (or head) of his/her instrument needs to be changed or replaced.The bongo and conga are no strangers to this rule and will face wear and tear, breakage or other accidents that will demand a new skin or head. Today there is a wide variety available in the market that can be delivered to your doorstep. The aim of this article is to acquaint you the process of re …

Francisco Aguabella is a true Master Drummer. The title is used in the African Tradition to identify people who have dedicated their whole lives to the Drum. Not only must the Master Drummer know the cultural and ceremonious beats of their ethnic group but the neighboring groups as well. The Master Drummer must have the beats and the songs buried deep inside of them where they will never leave. This is Francisco Aguabella; and he is the Master.Francisco Aguabella was born into mu …