contributed by Flora Newberry

Quick & Easy Drum Project

This project got it's start when someone asked me about the value of therapeutic drumming, and I realized that drums were an instrumental group I had neglected in my therapeutic music groups. I started thinking about ways to make a small, inexpensive but nice-sounding drum, and this is what I came up with:

Drum Body
* Many different materials will work for the body of this drum, but the diameter shouldn't be much bigger than the diameter of an oatmeal or coffee can.
*Oatmeal containers, coffee cans, small bowls, small flower pots will work.
*Take your clientele into account and consider each material's weight, breakability, and appearance when choosing. I used the giant cardboard tube that comes inside new carpeting; it's about the same diameter as an oatmeal container, and if you know someone who's handy with a saw, an 8-foot tube can be cut into several smaller pieces from 6-12 inches long, to make bodies for several drums.
* Your method of decorating will depend on which material you choose; neutral colored materials can be decorated with paint or markers, but coffee cans & oatmeal containers may need some type of paper glued around them before painting. *Decorating the drums with decoupage or Papier-mache is another option.

Drum Head
* For each drum-head you will need a 12-inch balloon (I tried 9-inch balloons, and found they would not work if the container was larger than a coffee-cup).
* Cut the neck of the balloon off just where it begins to get fatter, so that when you are done the balloon is roughly oval-shaped.
* Putting your fingers into the opening at the top of the balloon, stretch the balloon over the top of the drum body.
* It should fit tightly enough to stay in place.

Drum Stick
* Many different things can be used for a drum stick.
* We used tootsie-pops, tying a square of cloth around the lollipop part with yarn. *Unsharpened pencils, wooden spoons, wooden dowels with large beads or spools on the end, and various types of sticks will work.
* When playing this drum, you will get a better sound if you hold it up off the table with one hand, and play it with the other.
* If it rests on the table while you play, the sound will be soft and muffled.

Drum making and playing can be incorporated into various groups, in the following ways......

With African-American History month in February, Drum-making could be accompanied by recordings of African drummers, discussions of the drum's many uses in various African countries, and/or discussion of the influence that African drum rhythms have had on much of American music (Jazz, Ragtime, Blues, Rock&Roll).

At Christmas, a drum-making or drum-playing group can be based around the song "The Little Drummer Boy".

For Cinco de Mayo or other Latin-American holidays, the drum can be incorporated into a discussion/listening/playing session on drums in Central, South, or Latin America.

We did a drum group in November and discussed Native American Indians' use of the drum, gave clients some examples of American Indian symbols to decorate their drums with, then invited clients to play along with American Indian songs on their drums.

Drums play a central role in so many cultures and rituals that I am sure there are many more possibilities we didn't even think of! The "Little Drummer Boy" idea came from another activity professional on our staff , who on seeing the sample said "Wow, you could use that for...."

Chances are everyone will have their own spin on this project, but as long as you have a good time with it, you can't go wrong.