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Drum & Rattle Making

 

No In-Person Drum and Rattle Making Workshops Are Currently Scheduled

Limited Virtual Drum or Rattle Making Workshops May Be Scheduled Directly With Shelley Stump.

To Discuss These Possbilites, Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Drums and rattles are ancient, sacred healing tools.  In making your own drum or rattle, you connect with Spirit through the heartbeat of Mother Earth.  Workshops can be arranged for groups of any size in making handheld single-headed drums, ceremonial two-headed drums, or individual rattles.  For drum making, pre-registration with non-refundable deposit for materials (based on types of hide and rim) is required.  We create drum and rattle making workshop flyers for scheduled events that includes descriptions of the workshop times, location, cost, supplies and directions; the medicine of the animal hide and rim choices, and pre-registration deposit form.

  

Drum Making Workshops

Connect with Spirit to the heartbeat of Mother Earth.  Make your own drum (hand-held or ceremonial) and/or rattle to deepen and strengthen your journey to the Intuitive.  The Grandmothers are beckoning for us to return to Heart.  Join together with gratitude to celebrate the gift of Spirit in our lives.  We Are All Connected. In crafting our drums in traditional ways, we work with (as available) the hide of Buffalo, Deer, Elk, Horse, or Moose and use sacred Willow Oak, Maple or Red Cedar rims.  All materials for the drums are handled in a sacred manner in gratitude for the gifts of the animals and plants who have given themselves to help us connect with the heartbeat of Mother Earth. 

Let the Spirit of the energy you need in your life guide your hide and rim choices.  (This list is subject to change based on availability of hides from suppliers. Hides listed below are also available for rattle making.)

Animal Hide Medicines 

                • Buffalo medicine offers abundance and support for all life
                • Deer medicine brings gentleness, innocence, and a loving heart
                • Elk medicine supports strength, stamina, and personal power
                • Horse medicine helps us access and use our spiritual power in wisdom and balance.
                • Moose medicine helps us embrace and heal our self-esteem

Drum Rims -- Gifts of the Tree People

                • Willow Oak gives energies of harvest, healing, and connections with the rhythms of life
                • Cedar gives energies of purification, renewal, and connects with mystic visions
                • Maple gives the wisdom of living in balance with the natural world

 

 Virtual Drum Making Workshop Via Zoom

Virtual Drum Making Workshops are limited to no more than 4 people so Teacher can adequately address the needs of each participant. 

Day 1 Drum Creation (4-5 hours)

In sacred circle, using Drum Making Kit materials purchased in advance from Cedar Mountain Drums (see below), participants pre-soak the hide (for at least 24 hrs), lace the drum head, form the drum handle, and create the drum beater.  (NOTE: Participants provide their own food, water, tea etc. for self care through the duration of the workshop. Some short breaks make be taken depending on the flow of all participants' work.)  

Day 2 Drum Voice Initiation (1 hour)

At least twenty-fours affter completion of the drum and the hide has dried, parrticipants come back together in sacred circle to initiate the voice of the healing drums. 

Drum Making Kits for Purchase:  Participants purchase their drum making materials as a Kit from Cedar Mountain Drums, Portland, OR. www.cedarmountaindrums.com. Contact Patrick Pinson to order materials or with questions about hide and rim availability and cost.  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Virtual Drum Making Workshop Cost: $25 per hour per participant for Teacher's time PLUS cost of Drum Making Kit Materials. (Note:  A $50 non-refundable deposit to Teacher is required at the time of registration.)

 

In-Person Drum Making Workshop Structure

For In-person Drum Making Workshops, a Drum Making Workshop Flyer containing information related to material availability, cost details and regisration requirements will be distributed to participants well in advance of the Workshop date.  IMPORTANT NOTE: Completion of the full Registration Form to enable Teacher's ordering of materials and submission of the required non-refundable deposit are required to guarantee a spot in the In-Person Drum Making Workshop.

Day 1 – Drum Creation (6-7 hours): 

In sacred circle, cut out drum head from raw hide, punch drum head holes, lace drum head, form drum handle, and create drum beater.  (Participants bring brown bag lunch).

Day 2 – Drum Voice Initiation (1 hour): 

In sacred circle, initiate the voice of your healing drum. (24 hrs after drum is completed and hide has dried).

What to Bring to the Drum Making Workshop:

  • Your Beautiful Heart
  • Blanket/Pillow and/or Yard Chair to sit on
  • Brown-Bag Lunch, Snacks & Drinks (this is NOT a potluck and No alcohol please)
  • Whatever you need to take care of yourself throughout the day.

Sample Hand-held Drum Making Price List (includes fee for Teacher's time) (hide and rim availability and prices subject to change without notice)

The cost of the hand-held drum is based on the rim size and hide type.  Rim size available by type only where size in inches is listed.  Costs include cost of materials for drum and drum beater and teacher’s time.

Animal Hide Type:

Buffalo*

Deer

Elk

Horse

Moose*

 

                                   Rim Type and Size:

Cost:*

Maple

Willow Oak**

Yellow Cedar

8 sided Red Cedar

16 sided

Red Cedar

 

----

13”

13”

----

----

$ 125*

15”

15”

15”

15”

15”

$ 130*

 

17”

17”

----

17”

$ 140*

20”

---

---

----

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$ 150*

 

 *Add an additional $65.00 for the cost of Buffalo or Moose drum.             

** Small Willow Oak rims in 8” and 10” sizes may also be available.

 

Ceremonial Two Headed Drum: Can Be Completed Virtually or In-Person


Create a large (28" diameter) ceremonial drum for group gatherings.  Working together, groups create a large, two-headed ceremonial drum and four beaters.  This "Mother Drum" helps to ground and support all who are touched by the sound of the drum, helping them live in balance and alignment with Spirit – in Love and Light.  In making the drum, we work in sacred circle with gratitude for the gifts of the animals and the tree people.  In return for these gifts we will give form through our prayers to the energies of their medicine.  In advance of the workshop, the group or workshop sponsor selects from the list of Animal Hides (above) the type of hide for each drum head -- the Earth side and the Universe side -- as well has the lacing that holds the two together.  Different hides can be used for heads and lacing or the same hide can be used in all parts of the drum.  The group experience in creating a ceremonial drum is profound and creates a strong sense of community and support in group members.  (NOTE:  The standard cross-bar drum stand is different than the custom stand shown in photo.)

The Total Cost for a Ceremonial Drum Making Workshop depends on the cost of hides selected.  Estimated cost for an In-Person Ceremonial Drum Making Workshop, including materials (rim, hide(s), drum beaters and stand), and teacher's and assistants' time is $1,200.00. Cost will vary for a Virtual Ceremonial Drum Making Workshop depending on the number of participants. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss factors related to organizing a Virtual Ceremonial Drum Making Event.

 

Rattle Making Workshops

Working with medicine of the Buffalo, Deer, Elk, Horse or Moose hides, we craft rattles for ceremonial and healing use.  Rattles are found in cultures all over the world and are used much like sacred sage, cedar and other clearing herbs to break up and clear negative energies and bring positive energies to surround and lift us up spiritually.  Isn’t in interesting, that even in the dominant Western culture that, for the most part, has lost touch with it’s indigenous heritage, the first gift we still give newborn babies are rattles?

Rattle making workshops can be organized and rattle making workshop flyers will be created upon request similar to drum making workshops. 

 

Virtual Rattle Making Workshops

Virtual Rattle Making Workshops are limited to no more than 4 people so Teacher can adequately address the needs of each participant. 

Day 1 Rattle Creation (2-3 hours)

In sacred circle, using Rattle Making Kit materials purchased in advance from Cedar Mountain Drums (see below), participants pre-soak the hide for 24 hrs, stuff the rattle to form it's shape, and temporarily insert the rattle stick so it can dry overnight.  (NOTE: Participants provide their own food, water, tea etc. for self care through the duration of the workshop. Some short breaks make be taken depending on the flow of all participants' work.)  

Day 2 Rattle Completion and Voice Initiation (2-3 hours)

At least twenty-fours affter completion of the temporary assembly of the rattle and the hide has dried, parrticipants come back together in sacred circle to remove the stuffing, insert noise makers, and complete the final wrap of the rattle handle. We then initiate the voice of the healing rattles. 

Rattle Making Kits for Purchase:  Participants purchase their rattle making materials as a Kit from Cedar Mountain Drums, Portland, OR. www.cedarmountaindrums.com. The kits contain hide of choice, stick, stuffing material, corn, needle and waxed thread for lacing.  Contact Patrick Pinson to order materials or with questions about hide and rim availability and cost.  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Other Rattle Making Materials and Tools

Noise Makers: You need to have prepared and available in advance, items you wish to use for the noise maker in your rattle if you do not want to use the corn provided in the Kit. Items can include dried beans, popcorn, small pebbles or other stones, or other small hard objects that will not break down over time as the rattle is used.

Tools: The tools you will need to have on hand for use during the workshop are: long needle-nose pliers, a long handled crochet hook, or other long, narrow reaching tool to help you remove the stuffing after the rattle has dried and before insertion of the noise makers.

Virtual Rattle Makinig Workshop Cost: $25 per hour per participant for Teacher's time PLUS cost of Rattle Making Kit Materials (Note:  A $50 non-refundable deposit to Teacher is required at the time of registration.)

 

In-Person Rattle Making Workshop Structure

For In-person Rattke Making Workshops, a Rattle Making Workshop Flyer containing information related to material availability, cost details and regisration requirements will be distributed to participants well in advance of the Workshop date.  IMPORTANT NOTE: Completion of the full Registration Form to enable Teacher's ordering of materials and submission of the required non-refundable deposit are required to guarantee a spot in the In-Person Rattle Making Workshop.

Day 1 – Rattle Creation (4 hours): 

Cut out rattle head from raw hide, punch rattle head holes, lace rattle, stuff with fiberfill to create full rattle shape. 

Day 2Rattle Voice Initiation (1 hour):

Remove fiberfill stuffing, add noise makers of your choice (seeds, corn, beans, stone, popcorn, etc.) to rattle, add final closure wrap and initiate voice of the rattle.  (24 hrs after rattle is completed and hide has dried)

Rattle Making Cost

Cost:  For In-Person Rattle Making Workshops, we use scraps from hides in prior drum making workshops and those materials are provided free. We also supply dried beans and corn to insert as noise makers. You may bring your own noise makers as you choose, like small pebble, or other hard objects that will not break down over time as the rattle is used. Assembly tools are also provide for your use at the workshop. There is a $25 per participant donation requested which covers cost of materials, teacher's and assistants' time.

 

Scheduled Drum and Rattle Making Workshops

Check our Calendar of Events for dates of scheduled drum and rattle making workshops.  

 

To Arrange a Workshop

To arrange virtual hand-held and ceremonial drum making and rattle making workshops, contact Shelley Stump This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Drum & Rattle Making Workshop Leaders

 
  
Virtual Workshops:
 
Shelley Stump, Teacher of Ancient Wisdom (center)
 
In-Person Workshops:

Shelley Stump, Teacher of Ancient Wisdom (center)
Rhonda Wright, Drum/Rattle Making Assistant (right)
 Dodie Gillespie, Drum/Rattle Making Assistant (not pictured)