CLICK ON 3 LINES FOR NAVIGATION MENU







Show and Tell with cultural drums and percussion from multi-cultural, indeginous backgrounds from all walks of life from Native Americans, to the Senegal African tribes, to Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Brazil, and more




beaded shaker
woven shakers

Tubular bells/chimes





Hand Carved Hollowed
Wood Rattle



Rain Stick



Claves



Hollow Gourd Shaker



Kalimba, Thumb piano



Cabasa





Anklets worn by dancers



Tambourine



Tambourine
made by student



Percussion Fish



Percussion Frog



Community Drum



Discriptions of Percussion





Rhythm sticks



Pu-ili sticks, also known as "Filipino buzz sticks" or "devil chasers," are Rhythm Sticks made from tubes of split bamboo. They can be shaken like a switch or a rattle, struck together, or plaed against the body, producing an insect-like buzzing sound. Variants of this instrument are found throughout Oceania and in other areas where bamboo is common. In Polynesia, pu-ili sticks are played by dancers and used in hula orchestras.​



Anklets



Leg and Ankle Rattles bring another dimension to dance, one that is both percussive and ornamental. The sound of ankle rattles parallels the motions of the wearer, adding rhythm and texture, blurring the division between music and dance.

These wearable instruments, fashioned from cocoons, seedpods, animal hooves, bells, or other materials, are common to many cultures and are worn by shamans and medicine men as well as dancers and musicians.



shakers
and
Maracas



Across the globe we find a multitude of shakers and maraca like instruments. Each is a musical world unto itself, with its own intrinsic techniques and qualities. Maracas are among the best known and least appreciated of percussion instruments. A fine pair of maracas has a natural, balanced feel in the hands and sounds clear and precise. Each pair has a high-and low-pitched paraca, termed female and male respectively. Maracas can be played in a number of ways and are capable of rhythms as sophisticated and complex as those of a snare drum.

​



Shakers



Endless sound possibilities are in your hands when you take up musical company with rhythm shakers . That’s because the materials inside these shakers never strike the same way twice, leaving you and your music open to all sorts of new and different sound patterns. And that’s a good thing as you grow musically and creatively as an artist. You can control the sound you want by shaking the shakers more gently for lighter sounds or more vigorously for louder accents that need to cut through accompanying music.


Rainsticks



The rainstick is believed to have been invented by the Aztecs and was played in the belief it could bring about rainstorms. Rainsticks are usually made from any of several species of cactus. The cactuses, which are hollow, are dried in the sun. The spines are removed, then driven into the cactus like nails. Pebbles or other small objects are placed inside the rainstick, and the ends are sealed. A sound like falling water is made when the rainstick has its direction changed to a vertical position.



Claves, Percussion Fish & Frog



​Claves are often played in repetitive 2-3 or 3-2 time or African 6-8 time where strokes in the first half of the movement are not repeated in the second half. It’s these stroking patterns and the loud, sharp sounds that heighten the allure and the widespread appeal of the clave. To play the clave correctly, make sure you don’t hold it too tightly or you will muffle the sharpness and intensity of the sound. PERCUSSION FISH AND FROG Percussion fish and percussion frog. Rhythm is created by rubbing the stick over the ridged areas of the instruments.





Cabasa



Invented over 40 years ago, and now one of the most popular percussion instruments ever, the handheld cabasa creates rhythmic scraping/rattling sounds and vibrant patterns. Larger cabasas produce a louder, more full sound, while smaller versions offer the percussionist more control and softer volume. Cabasas are fun to play and feature cylindrical construction with steel-beaded chains that help create the signature sound.



tambourine



The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all. Tambourines are often used with regular percussion sets. They can be mounted, but position is largely down to preference. Tambourines come in many shapes with the most common being circular.



Tubular bells



Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the percussion family. Each bell is a metal tube, 30–38 mm (1¼–1½ inches) in diameter, tuned by altering its length. Its standard range is from C4-F5, though many professional instruments reach G5 (see photo). Tubular bells are often replaced by studio chimes, which are a smaller and usually less expensive instrument. Studio chimes are similar in appearance to tubular bells, but each bell has a smaller diameter than the corresponding bell on tubular bells.



Chinese drum



The den-den daiko is a pellet drum. It has two heads and is suspended on a rod, with beads or pellets hanging on threads on either sides of the body of the drum. The drum sounds when it is turned on its axis from side to side, causing the beads to strike the heads of the drum.



frame drum



FRAME DRUM A frame drum is a drum that has a drumhead width greater than its depth. Usually the single drumhead is made of rawhide or man-made materials. Shells are traditionally constructed of bent wood (rosewood, oak, ash etc.) scarf jointed together plywood and man-made materials are also used. Some frame drums have mechanical tuning and on many the drumhead is stretched and tacked in place. It is the earliest skin drum known to have existed. Examples are found in many places and cultures. The frame drum is one of the most ancient musical instruments it is reputed to be the first drum to be invented. This frame drum is called a bodhran and is from Ireland.


Community drum



The Powwow drum is a large base covered with hide (buffalo, deer, or cow). Forming a circle, eight or more men strike the drum in unison with covered mallets. The men then blend their voices with the beating of the Drum to create the song.

It is said that the drum was brought to the Indian people by a woman, and therefore there is a woman spirit that resides inside the drum. Appropriately, it is to be treated with respect and care, and strict behavior is expected of anyone coming in contact with the drum.





Kalimba



The kalimba, or thumb piano, is a fascinating African musical instrument with a storied history that dates back thousands of years.One of its earliest uses was by traveling African poets who would play the kalimba while entertaining villagers with .songs,stories and dances



castanets/maracas



The instrument consists of a pair of concave shells joined on one edge by a string. They are held in the hand and used to produce clicks for rhythmic accents or a ripping or rattling sound.



the beauty of
Rhythm and life



Here we have an ensemble of percussion in many variations. This is a beautiful, ideal introduction to this amazing collection of instruments. Discovering the great variety of percussion, cultures, and new techniques with this array/ensemble of tools of sound. To share and play with all those who are curious and enthusiastic about adventure, experimenting, jiving with the beauty of Music. This array of instruments and percussion were accumulated along many years of my professional teaching and performance, to share with Adults and Children. With my educational leadership I would like to take you on a journey of rhythm.


Sabina demonstrates the roto dums
Matt demonstrates drum set