Drum Making Playshop by The Different Drum

Some of the oldest Magickal tools are the drum and rattle

Rock Mama Studio, 8109 Fruitridge Rd, Suite C, Sacramento, Ca 95820

FREE per person

3h 30min

March 14, 10:00am-1:30pm

Most Magickal folk keep a bag full of useful tools, yet few are more revered than the drum. Here's your opportunity to update your bag with this most ancient of the tools, made with your own two hands!

Drum Playshop Prices:

Deer -
14" - $160
16" - $180
18" - $210
Horse -
14" - $160
16" - $180
18" - $210
20" - $270
Elk -
14" - $180
16" - $200
18" - $230
20" - $290
Buffalo -
16" - $230
18" - $260
20" - $320

Note that not all hides come in all sizes. Why? Simply, over the years, I've learned which ones work best at what range and this represents the best set of choices.

All paid registrations are due by 2/28/26.
Payment by:
Venmo,
PayPal,
Credit card through https://thedifferentdrum.net/pay-don
or check by snail mail as long as I get it before the due date.

You can contact me here on Facebook,
by e-mail - drummaker@thedifferentdrum.net,
or by text or phone @ (916) 835-1863

Drum FAQ:
"Are these Native American drums?"
Yes and no. Yes, Native Americans still make similar drums, but so do a lot of other cultures around the world. These are, essentially, the same kind of drums any of our ancestors might have made thousands of years ago when they were still working with stone tools - only better, thanks to a little modern twist that helps longevity. They're truly Pan-cultural and practically part of our DNA - no matter what your background.

"What are my hide selections?"
Buffalo, Elk, Horse, or Deer. These are all hunted animals - except the horse, which are of natural deaths - and are all blessed and all the parts used long before I ever see the hides.

"What are the differences?"
Tough question to answer, as every drum is utterly different than every other one (the beauty of this particular medium), but IN GENERAL:

Buffalo - deeper pitch, less resonant, more grounding, heavier.
Elk - Medium to higher pitch, most versatile, longer resonance, energy varies. Elk is my "go to" hide for almost everything.
Deer - light weight, higher pitched, simple, clean resonance, very "air"/"Higher chakra" kind of feeling.
Horse - These can be really all over the place, so no guarantees here, but they tend to be a great option for those that aren't a fan of the hunted species.

Again, remember, these are generalizations (really, I can't stress this enough) and what your drum becomes is also DIRECTLY related to your personal energy resonance.

"What size can I make?"
14", 16", 18" and 20" Yes, generally, bigger is deeper and louder. If you want to wake the dead, do a 20" Buffalo. For ceremonial/divining work, a 16" Elk or deer might be a better choice. You get the idea.

"What if I want to make something bigger?"
Great! At that point, they get pretty time consuming and aren't group class friendly. Talk to me about what you'd like to do and we'll arrange to have you come up to my Home workshop in Nor Cal for a 1-on-1 session. This works REALLY well for mother drums if you're so inclined.

"What do I have to bring?"
A sunny disposition, a sense of adventure, and two hands (or a friend with two hands). I supply all the hide, hoops, tools, and materials for drumsticks. Of course, drumsticks!!

"Will we be decorating our drums?"
Nope, not this time, but I'll happily answer all your questions as to how to personalize your new baby.

"How long does it take?"
2-3 hours, depending on the group. About 3-7 days before the drum is ready to play.

“Do we get to take them home?”
Of course! What would be the fun, otherwise?

Well, that should cover most of the questions, but please feel free to contact me if you have any others.

So there we were, a group of strangers, gathered around a fabulous Mother Drum, named “Heart of Peace”. Her human passed out the sticks, and started a simple rhythm. We joined in and played for what felt like only a few seconds.

It was over 45 minutes.

I turned to my wife and said, “I need to make one of these.”
She agreed.
Make.
Not “buy”…
Make.

So, the journey began – my version of a midlife crisis, I suppose – on the Path of the Drum.

Those first drums were crude, lopsided, a bit askew, but… That sound.
No, I stand corrected. Not sound.

Feeling.

It went clear to my bones, unlocking memories of past lives, visions of unknown places and peoples, connecting me with Spirit in a way I’d never experienced before. The simplicity of nothing more than wood and hide, intertwined in such a way that it transcended itself was actually, well, spiritual.

I had to share.
At first it was a drum here, and a drum there, a couple at a local festival, a few to friends, and slowly, almost painfully so, it began to take over what little time I had left from my mundane job.

So, I quit my job.

I began experimenting with ideas and designs, at first listening to the people telling me what they wanted. And, it worked. Sort of.

But, something was missing. It took me years to figure out what it was.

So I listened to the drums. I communed with them. I asked them what they wanted. Oh, the visions they gave me! I spoke with drum makers in my dreams and in the ethereal and a single, simple command came back.

Let the drums be what they want to be. Don’t force them. Let each have it’s own voice, it’s own personality.

I’m no longer a maker of drums.
I’m a guide
Join me on my journey.