Birthing Your Drum

If you are birthing a Medicine Drum with me, you will likely be creating a 14” Kangaroo Hide drum. I do occasionally offer the option to create a larger 18” drum, or to work with Goat or Deer Hide, particularly to those birthing their second drum with me.

I choose to work with the smaller Kangaroo drums for beginners, as the hide is more forgiving to work with, and the drum much easier to care for and play.

I pre-soak the hides, which has the advantage of allowing me to teach the entire process in one day. It also means the hides choose the person and the placement with the natural markings on the hides becoming visible only as the drum dries.

Our day begins by cutting drum heads and lacing, with hide left over to create a matching rattle, weaving respect and intention into our work.

Drums are then strung and tightened and handles woven, amidst a beautiful juxtaposition of connection, laughter and silence, before watching them begin to dry in awe as we begin crafting our needle-felt beaters.

While your drum will not be ready to play for at least a few days or more, it will be ready to take home immediately, along with your beater, felting needles and left over hide to craft a rattle should you wish.