Monday, August 29, 2011

Drum Circle


Here's some photos from the drum circle we went to a few weeks ago. Gary liked it so much he now wants to get a drum, probably a conga. We're going to stop in to a place where we can get advice on what kind of drums to get. I still want to get a tongue drum. It was quite a relaxing yet energizing time. There were belly dancers, drum players, observers, and it was just plain fun at the beach.


I took my ceramic rain stick and my spirit jar and played those along with the music. I still have to fire the maracas which are nice and dry now. But I am thinking something ceramic might be heavy to keep shaking repeatedly. Drumming is a lot of exercise believe it or not.


We just talked to Gary's eighty-one year old uncle in Cranbury, New Jersey and he's OK. He said it's the second time in 50 years where he got water in his basement. He built his home and worked there in his own milk delivery service till he retired in his 70's. He got about five 5 gallon buckets full and had to pull his carpet up. His neighbor's whole basement filled up with water, but his land is graded improperly down towards his house. The downtown section fared much worse with several feet flooding the streets.


I mixed up some more mason stained slips and now I'm completely out of dry porcelain clay. Been working on a few more colorful pieces so stay tuned for those. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

11 comments:

  1. Had to check out the tongue drum. It sounds like a xylophone. Hope you find one.

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  2. Hope Gary's Uncle is able to get back to normal dry living soon. My son is part of a drum circle in Ireland and then also joined a samba group: http://www.sonnasamba.com/node/1
    We had a go when we visited and you're right about it being good exercise!

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  3. Hi Patti, thanks, life is too short I think I am going to order one on the internet. Gary is looking for a drum right now the music is so mesmerizing.

    Hi Anna, thanks, I got on the websit and listened to all the videos, so cool and I love that they are dressed alike, this music is very relaxing and energizing all at the same time. Good clean fun. Which one is your son?

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  4. You and Gary are certainly living a full life down there in Florida! Gary would like our house, the front room, which is supposed to be a dining room, has a Ludwig drum kit, a keyboard, two violins, a dulcimer, three guitars, three djembes, a conga, a tongue drum, a talking drum and a set of bongos! Not to mention all sorts of percussion like rain sticks, shakers, etc. LP makes some great congas and bongos, check those out.

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  5. Hi Linda! Looks like you have been busy. I have to tell you I also LOVE those tongue drums. I came close to buying one this past year when Hardwood Music was here in Sarasota for a local show. The only thing that stopped me was my young children. I think when they are a bit older it would probably have a better change at surviving in my house. You are right about the sound that comes out of them. It is one that connects with my soul.

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  6. Listening to drumming while you're creating might ad an interesting influence on your art.

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  7. Hi Tracey, thanks, wow, who plays all those instruments, Wesley, or do you and Gerry play too? A tongue drum, I am so envious, where did you get it? I want one so bad. Gary used to play the trumpet in high school and in his own band after high school, but he couldn't stand the smokey bars so he stopped, but his family was always musical, his father played the banjo and his mother played the mandolin and his sister played clarinet and piano. We still have his father's banjo. Years ago I used to play piano, but haven't for along time.

    Hi Regi, thanks, Hardwood Music, hum, I sure would like to try one before I buy it; I may have to look for some music stores to see if anyone carries one rather than ordering over the internet. I have only heard one play once and it was years ago and I never forgot the sound since. Recently I learned the name of what it was and listened to a bunch of videos on you-tube. I just have to get one somehow. I remember I had a toy xylaphone as a child and I loved playing it; it had those multi colored metal keys; I must have been very young because I can barely remember it, but you mentioning your children reminded me of it just now. Thanks for visiting.

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  8. Hi Lori, thanks, what a good idea. Usually I don't listen to music when I work, but music is rather freeing to the mind; I think I'm going to do that, thanks for the great idea.

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  9. Linda- hi! I never heard about that kind of drum- how interesting!
    Wanting your wisdom about a skutt electric kiln in a garage. I put a short post on my blog. Where is your kiln?

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  10. Hi Amy, thanks, I left a long response on your post, any other questions, just email me or call me. And you can do a search here for 'studio tour part one' to see my kiln photos in my garage.

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  11. Looks like a great time! Hope that Gary gets the drum. Believe it or not, but I used to play the drums in a band! :)

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment