X8 Drums Blog

There are hardly words to describe the sound of the Marimba. This instrument brings to life a unique sound that is reflective of the person playing it, as well as the origins of the instrument itself. Normally considered a type of xylophone in the West, the Marimba has a much more diverse sound palette, particularly when played by a master like Joel Laviolette.Joel began his journey with Zimbabwean percussion after hearing a mbira play, and was inspired to immerse himself into the music, people …

Now that you have invested in the full, beautiful sound of a wooden drum you need to know how to take care of it so that it stays beautiful for years to come. Here are a few simple pointers to keep your drum in top condition.First, store your drum inside. This might go without saying, but I will say it anyway. Extreme temperatures and conditions can dry out your drum and create cracks or warp the shell. And I would recommend storing your drum in a specially designed bag or case. …

Bucket drumming is drumming that utilizes objects such as plastic buckets to create rhythm. It’s common to see people banging away on multiple-sized (and shaped) plastic buckets in many metropolitan cities. No trip to New York City would be quite complete without these awe-inspiring, rhythmic street performances.Buckets can be played in a variety of ways, with mallets, sticks, the hands or other repurposed objects. Different plastic buckets can be used that vary in size or are made of different …

Drums have long been connected with a history or spiritual and religious ceremony. They have also been used by many tribal communities for communication and celebration. However, when people think about such ancient events, men get the credit for these drumming ceremonies. The truth is, many of these ceremonies centered on goddess religions and were celebrated by women through the art of drumming.The ancient Romans and the ancient Egyptians both had high priestesses that held high religious powe …

Historically, drumming has long been an important part of Native American culture. In many tribes, drums were even considered sacred and embodied a life force of their own. Frame drums, it was thought by some, maintained the life of the materials of their creation including the plant that went into the making of the frame and the animal who gave its life for the skin of the drum. Because of these beliefs, frame drums are still treated with respect and reverence for the lives that went into their …

When I first came to Colorado I met a woman who played a Djembe drum. She invited me to a performance of her drum group, "The Front Range Orchestra." The beat and rhythms left me feeling exhilarated and energized.Because I have Rheumatoid arthritis in my hands, I thought I'd never be able to play or take classes. The Drum instructor invited me to try a djembe class. He provided the drums until I decided if I wanted to buy one. Much to my surprise, I was able to play without pain. I practiced reg …

I've wanted a drum kit as long as I can remember. My Dad was a professionally trained percussionist. He specialized in snare but did it all. I had no idea how good he really was until much later in my life. I heard him play at an outdoor Community Band concert and was amazed. I believe my quote was, "DAMN, Dad's REALLY GOOD!" He tried to give us lessons as kids. My attention wouldn't stay with it. If I could go back in time I would love to have learned from him.My first drum was a small Djembe. …

For me drumming has opened up a whole world of possibilities. As a form of self-expression, connecting with other, and stress relief, drumming is invaluable. Participating in drum circles helps build community, and gives the participant a great sense of joy and self-worth. As both a facilitator and participant, I have seen the magic happen again and again as egos are placed aside, and the group surrenders to the groove. I was first introduced to world percussion as a college student in Florida, …

The artistic space is a wonderful world that tiptoes elegantly between inspiration, creativity, blood, sweat and tears, and many creative professionals would have it no other way. A recent blog on bubblews.com shows that writing can be greatly enhanced through the introduction and consumption of music. With a discourse on tempo and rhythm, the writer has created a musically-inspired method of meeting deadlines and more, through the muse of music. Read more here: Music Therapy for Writing Creativ …

When it comes to jokes, the drummer’s role is typically to punctuate the punchline with a “ba-dum tsh.” But when it comes to drum jokes (yes, we’ve got a few up our sleeve), we’re glad to trade in our sting for a punchline.During his interview sessions with drummers featured in his video magazine drumtalk, German drummer and filmmaker Philip Koch asked some of the drummers interviewed to tell their best drum and drumming jokes. The drum joke compilation he put together gave us a laugh, and we th …