Drumming is one of the most ancient forms of musical expression on earth, its rich history spans thousands of years, within many cultures. There is early evidence of its ancient origins. Let’s start at the beginning. It's believed that early humans, often referred to as "cavemen," did engage in making music, including drumming. Archaeological evidence suggests that they used primitive forms of percussion instruments. They stretched animal skins over hollow logs or bones to create early drums and used sticks or bones to beat on these surfaces. These instruments were likely used for communication, rituals, and possibly even entertainment. Artifacts found in China made from alligator skins date as far back as 5500 B.C. Ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures also used drums in religious ceremonies and cultural gatherings. Among the earliest known percussion instruments are idiophones made from mammoth bones, dating back to around 70,000 B.C. These instruments produced sound through the vibration of the entire instrument. Development Across Cultures Drums have been integral to African cultures for centuries, used for communication, rituals, and celebrations. The djembe, for example, is a well-known African drum. The origins of classical drums like timpani (kettle drums) can be traced back to Egyptian and Turkish cultures. These drums later influenced European classical music. In ancient China, drums were made from various materials, including alligator skins, and were used in military and ceremonial contexts. Ancient Drumming Traditions Here are some fascinating examples of ancient drumming traditions from various cultures: Egyptian Sacred Drums: The sacred drum played a significant role in ancient Egyptian worship. These drums were often used in funerary rites, temple rituals, and public celebrations, serving as a powerful spiritual tool. West African Djembe: The djembe is deeply rooted in West African traditions, especially among the Mandé people. It is often used in ceremonies such as weddings, baptisms, and funerals, believed to have the power to summon spirits.

Live group video call, Every Wednesday at 5:30. It's going to be 30 minutes for now but Coffee hour is a fun name, even though I don't drink coffee that late in the day, and its only 30 minutes. I will bump it up to an hour as well get moving in later weeks. Come hang out and drum with your fellow community members! No specific agenda, just hanging out and working on drumming. I can check out your drumming, give you some things to work on, tips and critique. Ask any questions about drumming that you have. We can cover anything. Bring any hand drum, practice pad, drumset, or just your hands. We are just starting out with these calls so the time and day of this meeting is flexible depending on what works best for people, so let me know if another time would work better for you.

Here is an in-depth lesson on the single stroke roll. Which is: RLRL: right left right left. It's the most fundamental rudiment in drumming. There's a lot to chew on in this video. Practice this. Shoot a short video of you playing the single stroke roll and post it in the war room ⚔️ so I can analyze it and give feeback.

🙃 RF > RH > LF > LH A work in progress, try this out

This is one of the things I like to start beginner drummers on. First beats! (Worksheet in the Beats section in the classroom, under beginner beats)