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Native American drums are arguably one of the most popular American Indian instruments among Native Americans and non-Native American people alike. For many decades, drums have been at the center of Indian lifestyle, forming the basis of religion and spirituality and special occasions where a powwow drum is the center stage.
Throughout North American history, Indian people have used drums in various ways to communicate with the high energy known to many as the Great Spirit. To Native people, Indian drums are more than just decorations or musical instruments. American Indian drums are believed to speak to the drummer. Native drums, being created in a circle, represent the world and life. The most recognizable being hoop drums and shaman drums, which are Indian hand drums used in many personal healing and religious ceremonies, as well as public ceremonies like a Native American powwow.
The skin of the animal that is placed over the ring brings with it specific characteristics of the spirit of the animal and brings a sense of life to the drum when played. Many people think of pounding a drum to create a sound, but to Indian drummers and those involved in contemporary drumming groups and drum circles, the goal is to draw out the sound. The beating drum is compared to the beating of the human heart and is said to represent the heartbeat of the world, a belief that is classic Native American. Drums, in this way, become the platform to connect one’s spirit with that of the world and the Great Spirit throughout the history of American Indians.
Native American Indian drums have a rich culture, and because they are so significant, they are used not just in music but in art and dance as well. Adding design to a drum becomes a very personal task for the owner. The Indian drummer becomes an artist and communicates impressions of his internal feelings and values in his Indian art. Some American Indian tribes use images of animals to personalize their drums, and others use geometric patterns and everything in between. In some tribal Indian cultures, the drummer may put something of personal value inside the drum to forever join himself with his hand drum.
The different Native American icons that the artwork found on the drums depict are usually painted with natural world hues taken from nature. Some are dull, and others are bright from flowers, roots, berries, bark, or herbs that are boiled to release their unique world tones. Other Native American drums are decorated with iron oxide, which is a naturally occurring red rock that is easily broken. When mixed with water, it produces a rich orange-red dye that is much like paint and is indicative of the surrounding hillsides and rock formations, like those of the stunning Arizona red rock canyons. The area of Sedona is considered a special destination with spiritual force, like the energy built by American Indian drums.
The purpose of Native American Education, except for those Indian boarding schools that have tried to stamp out Native culture, has always been associated with the sharing of values through music, songs, stories, and legends. It is in harmony with these types of learning that the correspondence and cultural value have been found in the use of drums. If you are interested in the spiritual aspects of life as pertains to Indian values, you would enjoy using and playing Native American drums.
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME
