Native American Drums
1. Indian people in American history use drums in different ways to commune with a higher power known to most as the Great Spirit. To Indian people, Native drums are a lot more than musical instruments or decorations. American Indian drums in a special way, speak to the drummer.
2. Being made in a circle, Native drums represent the earth and life. The most recognizable being hoop drums and shaman drums which are Indian hand drums which are often used in healing ceremonies and religious events as well as public ceremonies like a Native American powwow.
3. The animal hide that is stretched over the drum ring has unique characteristics of the spirit of the animal and gives a sense of life to the drum when played. Most people who are new to drumming, think of beating a drum to create the sound, but those involved in modern drumming circles desire to draw out the sound.
4. The beating drum is compared to the beating of a human heart and is believed to represent the heart beat of the earth which is a classic Native American belief. Drums become the channel to connect the spirit with the earth and the Great Spirit in this way through out the history of American Indians.
5. Native American drums are used in not only music but art and dance as well because of their beautiful culture. Decorating a personal hand drum becomes a very personal expression to the owner. The Indian drummer is also the artist who communicates expressions of his inner thoughts and beliefs in his Indian art.
6. Some American Indian tribes use animals figures in their drum decorations while others use linear patterns among other themes. In some Native cultures the drum maker will put something in the drum that is of personal value to join himself to his hand drum.
7. The unique Native American scenes that the Indian art depicts on the drums is usually painted with natural earth tones taken from nature. Some are very bright while others are more subdued being made with flowers, roots, berries, bark and herbs that are boiled to release their unique natural colors.
8. Some Native American drums are decorated with iron oxide which is a natural rock that can be easily crushed. When added to water, it makes a thick red dye like paint and is indicative if the surrounding hillsides and rock formations like the beautiful red rock canyons of Arizona. The area of Sedona is thought to have spiritual power like the energy created by American Indian drums.
9. The aim of Native American education except for those Indian boarding schools that tried to stamp out Native culture has always used the sharing of beliefs through music, songs, stories and legends. It is with these learning methods that the communication and cultural importance has been found in using drums.
If you are interested in the spiritual side of life as it is viewed in Indian beliefs, you would benefit from using and playing Native American drums.
