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