What Musicians Can Expect at Drum Circles
Djembe Drums, Conga Drums, and Hand Drums Get Together for a Rumble
Jul 18, 2009
Sometime during the 1960s, drummers began meeting together in public places like parks or beaches to make music. Participants faced each other in a circle and played, allowing the voices of their individual hand drums to join in a shared group rhythm.
Today, the trend is still strong. Most major cities in the United States have established drum circles meeting on either a monthly or weekly basis.
Beginners at Drum Circles
Typically, the atmosphere of drum circles is encouraging and welcoming. All ages are generally invited to participate, and no drumming experience is necessary.
Drum circles offer an environment where drummers of all levels can feel comfortable expressing themselves rhythmically. Community drum circles are not intended to be a polished performance or even a rehearsal. Instead, group members create a finished piece on the spot as they attempt to join their individual instruments into a united group sound.
Rhythms at Drum Circles
Drum circle rhythms are improvisational, meaning percussionists create their music as they play. Musicians at drum circles are free to explore without needing to worry about right or wrong.
Some drum circles may adhere to a certain tradition of drumming such as West African or Cuban; musicians in these drum circles will have authentic hand drums and be familiar with rhythms from the culture.
In many drum circles though, there is no specific culture designated. Drummers bring hand drums from Africa, South America, the Middle East, Europe, and the Orient. It’s also common to see homemade hand drums or instruments made from recycled materials. When playing in these types of drum circles, musicians don’t adhere to traditions or classical methods. These drum circles offer a time to play for the pure enjoyment of playing.
The Drum Circle Facilitator
Some drum circles are directed by a leader, or facilitator. The facilitator may offer pointers to improve the session’s quality, but their main responsibility is to make sure everyone at the drum circle is having a good time.
Facilitators often get musicians involved at drum circles through various rhythm activities. They can get one group started on a certain rhythm then add more layers by teaching new parts to other groups. They may also warm the drum circle up by playing rhythms for the group to repeat back.
Many drum circles are more of an informal jam with no one person driving the event. During these jams, players take turns introducing new rhythms which build and evolve according to contributions from the group’s participants.
Drum circles are a wonderful way to get a little practice, meet new people, and have a great time. Musicians thinking of attending may be interested to look into drum circle etiquette, how to find a drum circle, and a few of the popular hand drums they might bring with them to the event.
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