X8 Drums Blog

A non-traditional drum group recently performed at a high school pow wow in Missoula. The Missoulian reported on the Pierre family: Miranda, Jen, Jerome, and Willie. The siblings drummed as part of the Honoring Our Youth Pow Wow, a Missoula County Public Schools tradition. The family has a drum called Bear Spirit and when their grandmother died two years ago, Miranda began attending the family’s drum practices and now leads them. Most tribes still do not allow females to drum, so having two sist …

An elementary school in Perry Township, Ohio, is using drumming to keep the students physically active. According to The Independent’s IndeOnline.com, the last few weeks of physical education classes at Whipple Heights Elementary School have incorporated drumming as a way to get the children’s heart rates up and encourage fun. And, it is working. The children are enjoying beating their drums, which are exercise balls placed on top of milk crates. The “Drumming with Fitness” unit is being led by …

Kodo is a Japanese Taiko drum ensemble that has been performing worldwide since 1981. This Week Community News recently reported on Kodo due to its One Earth Tour, currently working toward a Washington, DC, performance. The touring company consists of eleven men and two women playing two kinds of Taiko, which is Japanese for drum. The drums are either tunable or of a primitive design, the latter providing a louder and more natural sound. Kodo aims to be both traditional and modern and they study …

A drum circle in India has over 1600 members and helps keep urban dwellers connected with one another. The Gurgaon Drum Circle (GDC) began in the middle of 2011 with few participants. The Deccan Times reports that Gurgaon resident Kapil Siyal got the idea for the drum circle from his time living in Mumbai. GDC attracts people of all ages and backgrounds, allowing people from all over Dehli to get together and form personal and professional bonds. The group meets every other weekend at a park and …

In the world of drumming, practice is everything. However, all practice is not created equal. When we practice, we want to get the most out of our efforts and below are some of the best ways to practice drumming. 1. Use practice pads. Not only are practice pads a wonderful investment because they allow you to practice almost anywhere, but they can also help you maintain a comfortable relationship with family, friends, and neighbors. Practice pads can be acquired relatively cheaply, but there are …

The didgeridoo is an instrument that captivates attention no matter where it is encountered. Native to the aboriginal people of Australia, the didgeridoo emits a mystical sound that is easily recognizable. But, the instrument is not easily played by just anyone. Aficionados must use a special circular breathing technique in order to produce the mesmerizing drone and it can take a lot of practice and dedication to get it right. The results are well worth the effort, though. Circular breathing is …

Aspen Times reports that a former drummer for the Grateful Dead has teamed up with some African percussionists for a tour. Mickey Hart’s newest project, The Mickey Hart Band, released a well-received debut album in 2012 and is now performing with the African Showboyz, a group of drummers from Ghana. Hart met the African Showboyz after seeing them perform in 2005 and claims that they were all a good fit from the beginning. The Ghanan percussionists say the Grateful Dead’s music sounds like Africa …

The Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation is moving to a new location in Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York City. The non-profit organization teaches African dance and drumming to youth in the borough and, according to DNAInfo.com, is having a grand opening celebration later this month in order to introduce itself to the community. The Foundation began as Asase Yaa African American Dance Theatre in 2001 and has grown rather naturally. Parents would often approach the team after performances and eventuall …

Drumming is all the rage among the older generations these days. Many senior centers and assisted living communities are including drumming as part of their activity programs and everyone is seeing the difference it makes. Even scientists and researchers have been able to document how ensemble drumming reduces the effects of senile dementia and may even prevent it. While senior citizens may benefit in special ways from drumming, they also draw from the same pool of advantages drumming provides …

Blink 182’s drummer, Travis Barker, is now giving online drumming lessons. According to Tubefilter, Barker has released the first episode in a series of video lessons called “The Crash Course”. Many lessons will eventually be available via Barker’s personal youtube channel, taking a drummer from novice to pseudo-professional. The first episode centered on warm-ups and stretching techniques. Since Barker has experience drumming in a variety of musical genres, he seems a perfect candidate for a dr …