Non-Written Critical Cultural Narrative

The Culture of Drumming

By

Tamara Williams

EDS 349 Education & Culture

Fall 2005

Historical culture of drumming

Begins with rhythm

Big bang

Womb and mother’s heartbeat

Percussive act of body

Mythological tales from African and Native

American cultures

No dates, just events because of African

tradition

Row boats to sound of drum

Social culture of drumming

Music brings people together via

1. warm close atmosphere

2. synchronization- promote oneness

3. be here and now in the moment

Social culture = RITUALS

Communication

Language through specific rhythms

Ceremonies and pow wows

*planting, harvesting, circumcision,

burial, rites of passage, sacrifice,

marriage, war, dance and play, drum

making ritual

Social culture- SYMBOLS

Drum = planet + plants + animals

Community/ communication

spirituality= trances, transformation, ecstasy

Dancing, heartbeat, mythology, dress

Ethnomusicology

Royalty of kings

Physical imagery- maker, tribe, animal spirit

Political Culture

Drum is blind : gender, race, or how much

money one has

Perfect lesson in equality

open mind and heart (no one or wrong way to drum)

Africa- women dance, men drum

Language- Only certain tribes can understand rhythms

Religion (i.e. pow wows, celebration, meditation, etc.)

Economic culture

Drums objects of power

Makers are “guardians of great and

mysterious secrets”

Trade/gift item for financial security

Promotes African culture here in USA

Drums as ornamental novelties

(i.e. China, Greece, US)

My cultural influence of drums

Drum circles on campus/festivals

African drumming & dancing ensemble

Zen’s grandfather is professional drummer

Boyfriend makes and trades drums

Peace protests

Marches, bands, church

music is healing via breath, muscle, & blood oxygenCultural heritage and history for African Americans

Pulls one inward spiritually to self and others

Learning Intelligence

Kinesthetic

-Express and learn through moving

-Use both sides of brain when using both hands simultaneously

Chinese Proverb

I hear, I forget

I see, I remember

I do, I learn

Connections to My Work As a Teacher

Drums offer drawing and design inspiration

Teach African culture & art history

Making drums from clay

Playing drum recordings while children

work

Community of inquiry with a drum circle

Encourage self esteem and expression

We are imbedded in this universe of rhythm

“As a species we love to play with

rhythm because it seems to connect

us to something fundamental in the

nature of reality. We deal with it

every second of our lives, right to the

very end, because when the rhythms

stop, we die.”

Works Cited

Hart, Mickey and Fredric Lieberman. Planet Drum: ACelebration of Percussion and Rhythm. New York:

HarperCollins, 1991.

One interesting fact about the publisher of this book:

“The publisher will arrange to plant two trees in a Central

American Rain forest for every tree needed to manufacture

the paper for this book (4).”