Last fall, I went to a series of workshops in African drumming, focusing mostly on the djembe. I enjoyed the hell out of it, and recently decided to start back. It’s usually a small group, maybe three or four, and we focus on some pretty basic ensemble pieces and some freestyle jamming.
This time, I actually bought a drum of my own. The wooden djembes from Mali that the guy teaching the class was selling were nice, and very well-priced for the quality, but it was still more than I wanted to spend. I found a Pearl fiberglass djembe for a steal on eBay, and so far I love it. I think it could stand to be dampened a bit, but I’m told that this is easily done with some weatherstripping.
Any hand drum enthusiasts out there? Any favorite drums or percussion toys?
I’m mainly a kit drummer but when I go to my friend’s house I usually use his djembe while he plays his congas. His djembe has the most lovely bass note, I love it. It’s got a goat-skin head, hand strung and has a very resonant wood. It was made somewhere in Africa, I don’t know where specifically.
It constantly amazes me when people gush about my drumming talent, when they’ve only heard me play the djembe at an impromptu jam. I guess my kit skills translate well rythmically.
You play kit too?
Let’s see. One carved djembe, two staved ashikos, two frame drums, two ceramic doumbeks, one bodhran, one bamboo drum, one ceramic double-head Moroccan drum, one set of claves, one wooden agogo, and probably various others that I’ve forgotten. Also several courting flutes.
Why yes, I do believe we may have attended a drum circle or two in our time. 
My djembe has a very nice sound, but it weighs a ton. I finally bought a nice padded case for it that makes it much easier to carry. Mr. S like to play the two ashikos together. I am also fond of my frame drum with the walnut-stained head, made by Wayne Somebody in Minnesota, which I like to play with my decorated beater I bought from a friend of a friend.
Lately they’ve been gathering a bit of dust, thought as we’ve been pretty busy. But some night we’ll get the firepit going, after the skeeters die down, and drum the night away . . .
I used to play kit, in high school, when I had access to one via my friends or my high school’s band room. I miss it, and I’ve said for years that I want to get a kit, even browsing the classifieds every now and then, but I’ve never really had money or space for one. This djembe is actually the first drum I’ve ever owned.
If I keep this up, I may look into some congas in the near future. I want to have a full-on music studio in my next house (which I’ll be moving to next year), with a piano and all my guitars, and I’d love to have drums out the wazoo (kit, Latin, African) in there as well. (For CrazyCatLady’s sake, I should probably sound-proof it.)
You should see Guster play. Their drummer plays most all of their songs using his hands, and he goes nuts. Even plays the cymbals, which is not a wise career move IMHO.