Hoop Style Native American Drums - The Soul Of Indian Tribal Culture

Hand Made Native American drums are certainly thea drum becomes a very personal artwork to the
most identifiable Indian instruments among Nativeowner. The Indian drummer becomes an artist and
Americans and non Native people alike. Drums forcommunicates impressions of his inner feelings and
centuries have certainly been at the center ofbeliefs which adorns his drum. Some American Indian
American Indian lifestyle, forming what is now thetribes use animals to personalize their drums and
central point of religion and spirituality as well as socialothers use geometric patterns and everything in
gatherings where a pow wow drum is center stage.between. In some tribal Indian cultures the drummer
Many Indian tribes in North America history have allwill place something of personal value inside the drum
used drums in various ways to interact with a higherto permanently join himself with his hand drum.
power known to most as the Great Spirit. To NativeWhen it comes to adorning Native drums, the
people, Indian drums are much more than justbeautiful Native American designs that the artwork
decorations or beautiful musical instruments. Americanon the drums depict is usually painted with natural
Indian drums are believed to speak to the drummer.earth colors taken from nature. Some are dull and
Native drums being made in a circle represent theothers are bright coming from flowers, roots, berries,
earth and life. The most recognizable being hoopbark or herbs that are boiled to release their unique
drums and shaman drums which are Indian handearth tones. Other Native American drums are
drums used in many personal healing and religiousdecorated with iron oxide which is a naturally
ceremonies as well as public ceremonies such as aoccurring red rock that can be easily crushed. When
Native American powwow.mixed with water, it produces a rich orange red dye
It is thought that the skin of the animal that is pulledthat is much like paint and is indicative if the
over the ring brings with it unique characteristics ofsurrounding hillsides and rock formations like those of
the spirit of the animal and brings a sense of life tothe beautiful Arizona red rock canyons. The region of
the drum when played. Many people think of beatingSedona is thought to be a special place with spiritual
a drum to make a sound, but to Native Americanpower like the energy created by American Indian
drummers and those involved in modern drummingdrums.
groups and drum circles, the desire is to draw outThe desire of Native American Education except for
the sound. The beating drum is compared to thethose Indian boarding schools that have tried to
beating of a human heart and is said to represent thestamp out Native culture has always involved the
heart beat of the earth which is a belief that is classicsharing of beliefs through music, songs, stories and
Native American. Drums in this way become thelegends. It is in harmony with these methods of
central point to connect one's spirit with that of thelearning that the communication and cultural
earth and the Great Spirit through out the history ofimportance has been found in the use of drums. If
Native Americans.you are interested in the spiritual aspects of life as
Native American Indian drums have a beautiful culturepertain to Indian beliefs, you will get a lot out of
and because they are so important they are used inhaving and playing Native American drums.
not only music but art and dance as well. Decorating