The Making of a Drum….

Fall 2008 Projects
Text Box: Hides obtained locally from Lowland Bison Ranch are fleshed (fat and meat separated from hide) and dehaired after hides are soaked in water for several days (or longer). The fleshing and dehairing of the hide is the most labor intensive part of the process. Thirty hours or more is required to flesh and dehair a pair of rounds (heads) for a pow wow size drum. I also use some whitetail hides for small drums.

Cedar boards are planed to a standard thickness and frames pieces are cut to precise angles using a miter saw.   Larger frame pieces are joined using biscuit joinery.   Frames are held together with band clamps during the drying stage.   Edges are leveled,and rounded over with a router.  After the sanding the frame can be left natural, stained, sealed or otherwise finished to suit the project.   The hide is trimmed to fit the frame and I often cut the flaps before lacing the drum if the hide is heavy (notice the head under the drum frame in the photo).   Sometimes I add color to the hide using organic dyes.  (These colors darken considerably as the hide dries.)  The drum is then laced, a handle is formed from extra lacing and then it must dry.

Unusual and unpredictable patterns are the result of dyeing the hide.  I often leave small areas of hair on the hide for decorative effect.  Each drum develops its own unique tone and often the two sides are very different in sound and timbre.  Beaters are fashioned using a variety of materials and decorative techniques.

Click here:  Sound file featuring Corey Drifka on Buffalo Drumset  (Three Buffalo Drums)

Click here for a sample of the performance of Twas in the Moon of Wintertime.  Arrangement for harp, Native American Flute, powwow drum and rattle.