X8 Drums Blog

Some United Kingdom physicians are prescribing singing lessons to patients with breathing problems. Global News reports that a less traditional form of help is being offered to UK patients suffering from asthma, emphysema, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD). The singing classes aim to teach them how to breathe better and make the most of their lung capacity. Controlled breathing techniques like those learned through singing, yoga, and tai chi help people with breathing problems be …

Jason Gianni teaches beginning drummers how to increase their stick speed and control in this Howcast video. He suggests using a variety of muscle groups in different strokes. He says to start with the fingers and move through each group until you have built up the muscles. You start slowly and then go faster. The point seems to be to isolate each group as you exercise it: fingers, wrist, and arm. The point is not to learn new technique, it is to simply become more aware of what you are doing wh …

Music therapy is being enjoyed by patients in Tallahassee, Florida, and their loved ones are also happy about it. Big Bend Hospice has been offering music therapy since 2001, when Florida State alum came and presented the benefits to the CEO. Since the Hospice decided to give the therapy a try, patients suffering from a variety of life-limiting diseases have enjoyed having live music played for them. In some cases, patients who haven’t spoken in a while are able to sing along to favorite songs. …

Have you ever walked around a store that sells musical instruments and noticed a carved wooden frog with a stick sitting on a counter or shelf? The frogs may come in a variety of sizes and colors, and the size of the instrument dictates the tone of the... well, the "ribbit." These frogs are one variety of a hand percussion instrument known as the guiro, and these days, you can find guiros in all shapes and sizes and made from a wide range of materials.There is not a 100% certainty about the orig …

The 10 member ensemble called Hands Percussion recently performed a mesmerizing night of music as part of their fundraising efforts. New Straits Times reports that the Malaysian group has been invited to perform in southern France at the International Folk Festival of Martigues. The drumming ensemble last performed there in 2009 and is excited to go back. During the 75-minute long fundraising concert, the group performed its own interpretation of Swan Lake using Asian drums. The group is known f …

Anyone who says music can’t change the world has never heard Malachi Samedy play the drums. The 9 year old drumming prodigy began playing the drums before he could walk, according to a story on the Huffington Post. His father says Malachi would bang on everything when he was younger, leading his parents to get him his first drum kit when he was 24 months old. He was admitted to music school at the ripe, old age of 4 and has drummed for many fundraisers and benefits. His talent not only impresses …

Sound healing has a long history and, now, modern medicine is beginning to embrace its benefits. Rappler reports that in a recent presentation in the Philippines, Dr. Rosalind Hackett spoke with other participants of an international conference about the power of sound healing. An anthropology and religious studies professor at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Hackett presented information on psychoacoustics and how sound affects the nervous system, for better or worse depending upon our musical …

NPR reports Afro-Cuban jazz musician Chucho Valdes has released another masterpiece. With his quintet, the Afro-Cuban Messengers, it’s clear that Chucho aims to nurture and spread the message of the genre. Border-Free gives us a taste of the musical ancestry of Cuban jazz, exploring New Orleans, Santeria, the Comanches, and Africa in one stunning composition after another. Branford Marsalis makes an appearance on a couple of the songs, lending a hand to a tribute to Chucho’s father who died earl …

These days, most drummers who play the cajon probably bought the instrument from a supplier of musical instruments. While twenty or so years ago, the cajon drummer likely played a crate or box found somewhere in the city, mass production now makes it easy for most people interested in playing the cajon to be able to do so. As a result, customizing the cajon drum sound has never been easier. Whether you like to use the snare sound or prefer the more traditional sound of the cajon, it is easy to a …

Here you can find a video about neutralizing overtones in your conga. Sometimes, drums are made in such a way that the body and/or the head provides overtones that make it a challenge to produce the sounds you are looking for. By tapping on the drum’s body, a drummer can hear overtones. In the video, you will learn that permanently suspending an object in the drum helps reduce that problem. Viewers will find that the Making an Instrument Tutorial blog is full of various ideas and videos, such as …