X8 Drums Blog

Many music therapists understand the benefit of music and rhythm to help with a wide range of disorders and illnesses, and the application of these techniques on various ailments is continually finding success for people of all ages. A recent article on News Fix explains that there is a benefit to using music to assist patients who struggle with asthma. Using music with other interventions like inhalers and medications can help enhance those treatments through calming the patient and helping to …

Drumming is making a name for itself outside the recording studio, off the stage and away from the drum circle as it has found a great reputation as a way to burn fat while eliminating stress and anxiety. Arizona Daily Star reports that a gym in Arizona has found that this new way of burning calories is a favorite for the throngs of people looking to find a new motivation to get healthy. Because of Pound, the drumming-exercise program, more people are turning to rhythm to help feel healthy, with …

The Brazilian Carnival invites people from all over the world to celebrate in the streets while immersed in the sounds of Samba. In a recent YouTube video, this sound was captured, but, with one very notable enhancement to the sound - the entire group of Samba drummers is female. The São Clemente Samba School showed that an all-female Samba drumming group has just as much impact as the more traditional mixed-gender groups that play, and with more and more women picking up drums, these groups are …

Kids naturally love to drum, and to be part of drumming activities and events, and it takes a special person to help bring that all together to instill a lesson on responsibility in life. Journal Pioneer reports that Mitch Dorge, the drummer for Crash Test Dummies, recently visited a school to get kids excited about music and instruments, and bring home a lesson on the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain, and in life. Dorge's efforts continue to entertain and inspire children, serving as a …

There is not much to say about Sheila E that has not been said before. As a musician and percussionist, she will always remain at the top of the list of the greatest drummers to behold, with her unique style influencing a wide range of music today. In this YouTube video, Sheila E is captured in a fantastic conga drum solo that shows she has no plans of stopping her rhythm anytime soon. …

Senior citizens are hardly the kind of people to just sit around and play cards anymore, especially if you consider the viral video of a grandmother rocking out on a drum set. Today's senior citizens are active, forceful, and ready to keep living a life full of joy and the pounding of drums. ABC North Coast NSW reports that an Australian group of seniors is doing just that, finding physical and mental wellbeing through weekly drum gatherings. Read more here: Byron Bay elders beat drum for social …

There is a lot of artistry in drumming, no matter the style or genre one chooses to play. Drumming behind a drum set allows for a full range of possibilities in rhythm, motivation and even emotion, and many drummers are content to sit behind a rig and beat the night away, so to speak. Then there are the drummers who like to add a little personal style, or, who just like to show off their dexterity and skill. These are the drummers who not only grab our attention with the pounding on a snare drum …

Whether listening to an amazing drum solo or playing a rhythm on your own djembe, bongos or cajon drum, drumming is one activity that just makes us feel good. Many people get lost in the rhythm of a song, finding inspiration in the beat that leads to air drumming or even dancing along, while others find the challenge of mastering a beat to be the ultimate in ecstasy. Whether playing on your drum or drum set, or cranking up the volume when Sheila E comes on the radio, there are so many reasons w …

The holiday season is upon us and within a few weeks, we will all be looking at a new year full of promise, hope and joy. But, before then, there is that traditional time of worrying about what to get those people on your list that have everything, don’t want anything, or you just feel they need to be shaken up a bit and given a present that will create memories for years to come. Drumming is becoming a very important hobby and activity for people across the country, whether a group of people …

Drum circles are lively and energetic and can be a lot of fun to participate in. There are a variety of instruments that can be played in a drum circle to add to the depth of the performance. These instruments range in the amount of skill required to play them, so there is something for people at every level.Hand percussion instruments can be a great way for beginners to start performing in drum circles. These instruments include rain sticks, kalimbas, woodblocks, maracas, cowbells, and claves. …