I am now looking to see where I go with this. All I know is I really like to drum. When I really get into the groove drumming with someone else (or even with a recording), I fall into a great meditative state. - Huey I started my music-making journey by learning to play the didgeridoo. As time passed, I yearned for some kind of percussive element to accompany the hypnotic sounds of the didge. That's when I turned to the djembe. Easy enough to learn, and loud enough to be heard, it provided a steady rhythm for the drone of the didgeridoo. I've since started experimenting with other sounds, but I make sure my djembe is always within reach. I've lived in the Raleigh area for over 10 years. I enjoy attending drum circles whenever I can. There I'll always find a friendly bunch of people that have discovered that you don't have to be a trained musician in order to make fun and thought provoking sounds. - Andrew
I’ve always loved music and dance, and am particularly drawn to tribal music. Something about it speaks to me. I went to a camping event and each night all the campers would gather and drum and dance around a large fire. Sitting in my camp chair, totally mesmerized by the music, I lost my balance and fell out of my chair! I didn’t even notice I was falling until I hit the ground. That's when I knew that drumming was something I needed to explore. I've since bought a djembe, taken a variety of lessons, and attended drum circles. I don’t really play to learn rhythms but rather to speak to my soul. I have found that drumming is a universal language, and I can connect to myself and existence as a whole. -April
Stories
Even the "Average Joe" can pick up a drum and be making music in a few short minutes. Got no rhythm? That's crazy talk! Anyone can play a drum! By simply listening first, finding the common pulse, then sharing the musical space we can all make fantastic, improvisational music together. For some this is just plain fun, but for others it is a much deeper experience. It's all what you make of it I guess....
What can I say.....I just love to drum!! I first put my hands on a djembe in July of 2007, and I have been totally hooked ever since. I continue to take lessons and do as many workshops as I can. My most recent passion is to bring drumming to groups of people who may benefit from this beautiful instrument in the way that I have. I had the pleasure to drum with a 105 year old woman (she didn't miss a beat) down in Florida. I witnessed the power of the djembe while visiting senior centers, youth detention centers, kids with autism, and severely mentally handicapped adults. No matter what the group, the drum and sharing rhythm together, brought smiles to them all. I hope to be smiling with you all soon! - Susan
I grew up in Durham and was inspired to drum by my Dad. He played congas in our church. Every once in a while he would let me play them at Wednesday night services and maybe once or twice on a Sunday. Later I was a walk-on for my high school's steel drum band and played all over the city and even did a trip to Boston. Like so many others, I gave up music when I went to college. That is until I found the Raleigh Drum Circle... the Lake Johnson Jam rekindled my love of drumming. I bought my first set of congas and play every chance I get. - Sean
Unexpectedly, a drum came into my life, took me unawares and to many new places, previously unknown spaces of people and rhythm and remarkable amazement. The community was welcoming to all comers and all levels and all sorts. Even the fearful found fantastic, intimidated were inspired, inadequate became intrepid, scared to scintillating, frightened to fanciful – a whole new world to explore very slowly or all dived-in with both feet. Without the support of the Raleigh Drum Circle no one would have suspected me to get from the basic beat to performing with a class at their birthday bash! I’m still stunned. It’s remarkable to be swept along by the lake with the drummers, and dancers, and strollers, and ducks. Yikes really. Here I am again to pinch myself, catch my breath, and find some sound soaring around, catch the heartbeat, find the ground. -Baker
I did a little drum and bugle as a kid but gave it up for little league. After that, drumming meant keeping the beat on my knees as a spectator. I took an interest in Celtic music and got myself a bodhran. I couldn't get the hang of the double-ended stick, so I passed the drum to my wife (she loved it, so I got no flack about the djembe I bought to replace it). Then I got inspired after seeing the drummer in Scottish band Old Blind Dog use a djembe instead of a bodhran. No stick! After a couple of weeks banging around alone in my room, I started going to Irish jams and learning where to fit in the songs.