• About Us
• Our Drums
  • "Ancient Style"
  • Mother/Barrel drums
  • Painted drums
• Classes
• Calendar
• Links
• Gallery
• Road Show
• Contact
• Testimonials

The Different Drum curently offers four classes. These are designed to be fun, informative and planned around your schedule!

Group Classes

Make Your Own Drum

Class Includes:

• A finished (though still wet) "Ancient Style" drum and stick to take home and enjoy for decades.
• A prepped kit (cut and punched head, finished hoop and pre-cut lacing) to work with.
• A choice of sizes and materials.
• A fun, enjoyable project that doesn't take all day (usually 2-3 hours)
• Unlimited questions (though I don't guarantee the answers!)
• Your choice of comfortable working environments. I can come to you or you can come to me!

Sizes and Pricing:

• 14" - $130
• 16" - $150
• 18" - $175
• 20" - $230

Listed Prices are for an elk drum over a maple frame. Buffalo, Moose or Deer are also available at additional cost.
Class size must be a minimum of four. Please allow two weeks prep time with payment in advance.
Ask about having your group make it's own mother drum!!

Individual Intensive Class

In many cultures, to use a tool first involves creating that tool. Hunters make their own bows and arrows. Leather workers make their own scrapers and punches. The drummers, of course, make their own drums. However, in societies where drumming was a form of prayer, everyone made their own drums, learning from others that had made theirs. Thus, not only was the knowledge passed on, but it was refined over generations. Become part of this great tradition by creating your own playable work of art! In this class, we start with a piece of straight wood and a hide—enough for two drums (one for you and one for me to teach with) - and enter my workshop. In 3-4 sessions (on your schedule) ,we'll cut, shape, sand and polish a straight piece of wood (of your choice) into a hoop, then cover it in the hide of your choosing (Deer, Elk, Buffalo or Moose) to create an absolutely individual piece of audible art. Choices of wood include Aromatic Cedar, Zebrawood, Oak, Poplar, Spanish Cedar, Purpleheart, Hickory—essentially whatever you can imagine. Weight, size, and complexity of sound and design are all decided prior to construction. Price of the class is determined by the individual’s choices of materials."

Make Your Own Drum

The Mother Drum may be the oldest of the Tympanic style drums, dating back at least 10,000 years. Imagine the surprise when some hunter draped a piece of hide over a hollow stump to dry and discoverd after a couple of days that it made wonderful sounds! I suspect that soon the whole village gathered around the instrument and discovered that it truly was a "gift from the Gods".

Today this gift is known by many names:

Pow-Wow Drum
Council Drum
War Drum (unfortunate but true)
Gathering Drum
Grandfather/Grandmother Drum

Allow me to share this gift with you and your friends and family as I bring my house drum - Thundering Moon - to your home. This is not your normal drum circle as the energy feedback is different and utterly unique. Remember, this is the only natural instrument that gets better as more people play (try this with a guitar or a piano, sometime). Groups of up to 12 may be accommodated, but 6-8 is the most comfortable.

Due to the nature of this class, I do not feel comfortable charging any set fee. However, donations for time and energy are gladly accepted.

Facilitated Drum Circles

Explore the world of rhythm with your friends in a relaxed environment. This class, though open to all, is outstanding for beginners, intermediates, and folk that have never even touched a drum. Instead of the chaos of the "traditional" public drum circle, these controlled, exploratory sessions move the drummer from simply "feeling the rhythm" to listening for, acknowledging, and creating the various parts of a "rhythm orchestra".

Excellent for children's groups and school classes - recommended grade 4 and up.
$10 per person. Allow two weeks for reservations. Minimum 10 people. No maximum size (depending on space).

Some drums and other rhythm instruments (blocks, bells, rattles) will be made available. If you have a drum (and even some to share) it is recommended you bring it.