X8 Drums Blog

A substance abuse program at UCLA has helped American Indians and Alaska Natives using drumming. Clinical Psychiatry News recently reported that the drum-assisted therapy program met twice a week for twelve weeks. The first three-hour session convened around making a pow wow drum the program will continue to use. Since many American Indians and Alaska Natives are growing up without their cultural traditions and drumming is such a sacred thing in the cultures, the program hoped that bringing the …

Recently, a circle of 8000 drums were beat to help awaken Mother Earth. The Spec reported that Wilamina McGrimmond and the First Nations community of Hamilton, British Columbia, in Canada drummed a sacred ceremony that is held in various places around the world. The ceremony honors the Vernal Equinox and the beginning of spring. As McGrimmond explains, the point is to help wake up everything that has hibernated and slept the winter away, including Mother Earth herself. It is a way of healing eve …

The Dhol Foundation recently took part in the Guildford International Music Festival at the University of Surrey Guildford in the United Kingdom. The Foundation will also be part of a three-day event at Buckingham Palace soon, according to Get Surrey. Johnny Kalsi is the founder of the band, which began in 1995. It began as a drum school that also performed and in 2001, the first album was released. Although the band mostly plays bhangra, a type of Punjabi dance music, Kalsi is hoping to add mor …

Your drum is like an extension of your body and, as such, it deserves the same care and respect. When you are transporting your drums, it is important to make sure you do so in a way that keeps them in the best shape possible and protects them from environmental hazards. For some drummers, this will mean simply getting a bag with a strap and for others it could mean deciding to buy a car. How transportation affects you depends upon what kind of drum you are moving around as well as where you liv …

by Kalani Das, MT-BC (Part 1 of 2)Community drumming is one of the most popular forms of community musicmaking on the planet. With the recent rise in awareness and the availability of drums and percussion instruments, community drumming has become a popular staple in schools and community music centers, wellness centers, corporate events, beneficial musicmaking, and music therapy settings. While there are many forms of community drumming, there are a few core competencies and skills that will he …

Drumming is an extension of our humanity. When we think about it like that, it is not surprising that drumming provides so many health benefits, both physical and psychological. Drums have seemingly existed since the beginning of humanity itself. Drums are a commonality amongst all peoples around the world. Every people has had a drum of some sort. When we begin to consider how kids benefit from drumming, it’s helpful to think about this connection between drums and humanity. The language of dr …

For Phildas, drumming is an act of worship. The Switzerland native once held the Guinness Book of World Records title for non-stop drumming. She plans to break the current record even though it will mean drumming non-stop for 125 hours. The Hindu reported that Phildas has integrated her two loves: drumming and Hinduism. She considers Phil Collins her guru, as it was his drumming that helped begin her love for percussion. Her world record was in tribute to Phil and she meets with him regularly. F …

A West African drum ensemble has been created in West Boylston, Massachusetts. The group consists of eight students from Major Edwards Elementary School and is led by Mike Rinker, a graduate of Berklee Music College. The students meet as part of an after-school program sponsored by the West Boylston Arts Foundation. In the eight-week long program, students learn to play African drums such as the djembe and dunun, as well as call and response songs traditional to tribes in Guinea and Ghana. The B …

Claves are a type of rhythm or percussion sticks. Playing the claves means two, short pieces of wood are clanked together in rhythm. The use of the instrument is said to have originated thousands of years ago, as it has been used in rituals and music since ancient times. Modern use of claves seems to have gained popularity with Afro-Cuban folk music and the Latin music culture has yet to relinquish its grasp of this fine instrument. In fact, the name clave means “key” or “keystone” in Spanish, w …

Ready to JAM!! Spring is here let's rumble, groove and rock it all the way in - come join us for the X8 Drums Community Jam! Free!Wednesday, March 20th, 7 pm! Vortex Theater.Don't have a drum? Don't worry, we got 'em for ya!Date: Wednesday, March 20th, 2013Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pmLocation: VORTEX Repertory CompanyStreet: 2307 Manor RoadCity/Town: Austin, Texas 78722Cost: FREENotes: This event is RAIN or SHINE. Drumming will move indoors if weather deems appropriate.For more information, join the Au …