| Hand Made Native American drums are undeniably | | | | well. Adding decoration to a drum becomes a |
| the most used Native American instruments | | | | very personal artwork to the owner. The Indian |
| among Native Americans and non American Indian | | | | drummer becomes an artist and communicates |
| people alike. Drums for centuries have certainly | | | | impressions of his inner feelings and beliefs in his |
| been at the hub of Native American lifestyle, | | | | Indian art. Some American Indian tribes use |
| forming what is now the center of religion and | | | | images of animals to adorn their drums and |
| spirituality as well as special days where a pow | | | | others use geometric patterns and everything in |
| wow drum is at the center. | | | | between. In some tribal Indian cultures the |
| Many Indian tribes in North America history have | | | | drummer will place something of personal value |
| all used drums in various ways to connect with a | | | | inside the drum to permanently join himself with |
| higher power known to most as the Great Spirit. | | | | his hand drum. |
| To Native people, Indian drums are much more | | | | When it comes to decorating Native drums, the |
| than just decorations or beautiful musical | | | | different Native American designs that the |
| instruments. American Indian drums are believed | | | | artwork on the drums depict is usually painted |
| to speak to the drummer. Native drums being | | | | with natural earth colors taken from nature. Some |
| made in a circle represent the earth and life. The | | | | are dull and others are bright coming from |
| most identifiable being hoop drums and shaman | | | | flowers, roots, berries, bark or herbs that are |
| drums which are Indian hand drums used in many | | | | boiled to release their unique earth tones. Other |
| personal healing and religious ceremonies as well | | | | Native American drums are decorated with iron |
| as public ceremonies such as a Native American | | | | oxide which is a naturally occurring red rock that |
| powwow. | | | | can be easily crushed. When mixed with water, it |
| It is believed that the skin of the animal that is | | | | produces a rich orange red dye that is much like |
| stretched over the ring brings with it unique | | | | paint and is indicative if the surrounding hillsides |
| characteristics of the spirit of the animal and | | | | and rock formations like those of the beautiful |
| brings a sense of life to the drum when played. | | | | Arizona red rock canyons. The region of Sedona |
| Many people think of striking a drum to make a | | | | is thought to be a special place with spiritual |
| sound, but to Native drummers and those | | | | energy like the energy created by American |
| involved in modern drumming groups and drum | | | | Indian drums. |
| circles, the desire is to draw out the sound. The | | | | The goal of Native American Education except for |
| beating drum is compared to the beating of a | | | | those Indian boarding schools that have tried to |
| human heart and is said to represent the heart | | | | stamp out Native culture has always involved the |
| beat of the earth which is a belief that is classic | | | | sharing of beliefs through music, songs, stories |
| Native American. Drums in this way become the | | | | and legends. It is in harmony with these means of |
| center to connect one's spirit with that of the | | | | learning that the communication and cultural |
| earth and the Great Spirit through out the history | | | | importance has been found in the use of drums. |
| of American Indians. | | | | If you are interested in the spiritual aspects of life |
| Native American Indian drums have a beautiful | | | | as pertain to Indian beliefs, you would get a lot |
| culture and because they are so important they | | | | out of using and playing Native American drums. |
| are used in not only music but art and dance as | | | | |