Drumming is like painting a picture. The hands act as the brushes that splash colour onto the skin of the drum, in order to create a picture of sound and colour that expresses your State of Being.
There are four main components that make up the experience of drumming:
Silence
Silence is essential. Without the appreciation of silence, sound can become too much. Silence is the foundation. On its own, silence is without experience, but coupled with the right amount of sound, it is made into music.
Sound
Sound is what dances in silence. To know the dances well is to be able to make others dance. Silence is stillness whereas sound is moving. Sound comes in forms differing in tone, volume and pitch. Working with all the forms of sound, one can make a masterpiece.
Time
Time is like the river that flows on and on. It is the story. Time is moving, like sound, but silently. It is changing, according to our thinking. Time flies, time drags on. Whilst drumming we can create a feeling of rushing, or stillness by working with tempo. We can make patterns and cycles. It is time well spent.
Soul
The creator, the thinker, the soul, you, are the one that makes it happen. The way you are thinking is the way you will be playing. Tension in the mind will result in tension in the body. Peace of mind will result in the experience of peace, of flowing rhythm. You make it happen.
Drumming is seen as a great way to release tension and stresses from day to day life, and it definitely does this! From simply drumming out a rhythm you are concentrating your mind on a cyclic sound and movement which gives a really satisfying feeling. Something so simple is what we need in this age of frantic movement and frantic sound. The cyclic nature of drumming offers a sense of peace. You know the rhythm is going around and will come around again.
The Nature of Rhythm
Rhythm is an element of the heart, as is love. Things of the heart have the power to bring people together. It is these forces that bring about unity. the more open you are to the rhythm, the stronger its presence and effect will be. Rhythm is something you can not possess, it possess you. You simpy cannot hold onto rhythm nor can you hold onto love for that matter. Even when you are open to the rhythm, you do not possess it. For if you tried to grab hold of it, the tension created would stop the flow, and the rhythm would no longer be experienced.
So in essence, you can experience the flow that rhythm is, for the conductor of this force is present within us all, at all times. Such is love.
About the Author...
Ken Jacobs is a local music promoter who comes from the heart. Ken has brought many great world music talents to South East Queensland such as Xavier Rudd, who played to an estatic 1200 strong crowd recently. Ken's concerts are always inexpensive, alcohol free, child friendly occasions where all who attend enjoy quality music in a relaxed environment. Ken is also spokesperson for the free Burleigh Beach drumming and fire twirling gatherings occurring every Sunday. From small and informal beginnings, Sunday nights have grown to attract up to 800 people and are still informal, free, child friendly and GREAT FUN! Subscribe to his monthly newletter at his site.
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