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