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Drum Head Designs Several years ago, a friend and I made our own North American Indian hoop drums from the same deer hide. Since then, we have helped other people make hoop drums. As we were taught, it begins with a sacred ceremony in which the animal is thanked and honored for its sacrifice. The drums take over five hours to make. Then the maker must stay up with it during the night to be sure the hide dries over the hoop correctly, pushing the hide down along the interior edges and smoothing it across the rim. When finished, the instrument is full of deer spirit and the love each person put into it. Drums and tambourines lend themselves well to hand-painted designs. I use acrylic paints because they are durable, flexible, and can be retouched easily if the design wears off over time. |
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Each design says something about the spirit in the drum and of the maker. No manufactured drum or tambourine plays as sweetly, with as much soul.  |
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Leather covered heads conceal a hard or a soft core depending on the kind of sound you wish to create. As expected, the harder the core and thinner the leather the sharper the sound. Handle designs vary. I use leather strings, twine, cord, and sometimes beads. However, beads will break if the stick handle strikes the edge of the drum, so keep that in mind. Extra additions like feathers, dangling leather strings, and hanging beads can be added for decoration. They interfere with playing, so these extras are usually detachable. A natural percussion instrument with a sharp voice, that is the nature of a singing stone. They are dense, oblong, and flat, fitting into and filling the palm of the hand. One side is usually decorated with ritual symbols or patterns. The choices of these patterns convey a message about the one who plays the stones. The stones are held cupped above the palm and struck at 90 degree angles to each other. When played, use an open-handed and a closed-handed position to create distinctly different ranges of tone. |
 click to enlarge - Beautifully hand-beaded pouches and medicine bags to carry your most cherished items.  click to enlarge than actual size  face  underside |
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