X8 Drums Blog

This post is by guest blogger, Jim Greiner, an internationally renowned, award-winning percussionist, community drumming leader and educator. Group drumming is one of humanities oldest, and most universal, ways to energize and focus groups, build community bonds, enhance communication skills and to celebrate important events. During the two years I spent drumming in Africa, I was profoundly moved by the way that the people used community drumming to uplift and unify themselves in very …

"Rhythm is the soul of life. The whole universe revolves in rhythm. Everything and every human action revolves in rhythm." - Babatunde Olatunji Babatunde Olatunji was a Nigerian man who moved to the United States in the 1950s. Though he attended Morehouse College and New York University to work in medicine, he fell in love with drums instead. Many claim that the musician introduced the world to world music. Cover art for the album Drums of Passion Olatunji's music stood out to many o …

The djembe is one of West Africa's best known instruments. Traditionally carved from a single piece of wood with an animal skin drumhead, this hand drum belongs to the membranophane class of instruments, and stand generally between twelve and twenty-four inches tall.The name of the djembe came from the Bamana in Mali, who said "Anke dje, anke be" to call their people together, as the saying translates as "everyone gather together." "Dje" means gather and "be" means everyone, which gave the drum …

Actions Speak Louder Than Words is true to its name. In Actions Speak Louder Than Words, an interactive percussive show, the leaders, who mime their way through this Rhythm Interactive showcase, speak not a word. Those in the audience follow along during the event, with an African hand drum at every seat, to perform with the leaders. The show is the largest interactive stage production in all of New Zealand, providing a memorable experience for both visitors and locals alike. T …

Egg shakers are a versatile percussion instrument that can be used at all ages and skill levels to create a wonderfully rich musical rhythm with little to no experience. There are several types of egg shakers made from a variety of materials from natural gourds to plastic eggs filled with steel ball bearings. The best part of egg shakers, aside from the sound, is that they are easy to hold and use. Typically, you can hold anywhere from one to three egg shakers in your dominant hand …

Idris Hester leads a drum circle with verbal instructions and energized body language.Drum circles are becoming increasingly popular. They offer social outlets, while at the same time, supporting a worthwhile hobby. The emphasis on individual drum circles can vary, from ethnic events, like those that focus on samba music, to therapeutic groups for stress relief, to community drum circles, the main function of which is to create a sense of community.One of the most popular forms of drum circle is …

Jason Mraz is one of the hottest names in music. The singer songwriter, who grew up in Mechanicsville, Virginia, took his musical cues as a teenager from Dave Matthews Band, the Agents of Good Roots and musical theater. He moved to New York after high school graduation to matriculate at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, but left after a year. Mraz began playing the guitar, but the quality of his voice bears testament to his training as a vocalist; he is known for his broad and unmi …

The Gourd shekere is a simple percussion instrument that originated in Nigeria. It is used in traditional functions and ceremonies in the West African region. The gourd shekere generates sounds when you shake, pull, twist, or tap its net. Once you master this organic instrument, you can make a wide variety of beats and sounds. Although the shekere has its roots in Africa, it is also very popular in Brazil and Cuba. The gourd shekere is made of wooden beads and dried gourd. The beads are wo …

The flamenco is a time honored musical and dance genre that originated in Spain. Flamenco developed in Andalusia due to the interaction between Arabic, Andalusian, Sephardic and Gypsy cultures in the area in the 19th century, although forms of the music and dance were noted earlier. Flamenco music is characterized by intricate guitar playing and flamenco dancing refers to the corresponding dance, performed with easy to hear footwork. The cajon drum used for Rumba, a modern form of Flamen …

The eucalyptus didgeridoo is thought to be one of the oldest instruments found throughout history. Experts think that is has been played for over 40,000 years. In drawings found in many caves, the didgeridoo is shown being played by the cavemen. A lot of Aborigines around Australia used the eucalyptus didgeridoo in ceremonies for many years, in times of trouble and happiness. They believe that by playing this instrument, they can more easily induce a calm and relaxed state. This state would …