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Liverpool Art Center
Ongoing Art Classes in all mediums......
~ Art Classes ~Drumming Programs~
~ Art bySandra~ Upcoming Events~
Experience the Rhythm at LAC
DRUMMING CIRCLE
Monthly Community Event
Fridays 7-9pm >>>>>>>>
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DRUMS FOR SALE
Check Out our GiftShop
Dan has created some amazing sounding drums
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HERE'S A NEW PLAY ALONG VIDEO:
Photos by photographer, Ruth Seeley
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OUR Drum Circle T-Shirts
Have Arrived!
OUR T-SHIRTS Are designed and printed by Sandra!!!
$15 OR 2 for $20
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DRUMMING EVENT @ Onondaga Community College
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DRUMMING as an ACTIVE MEDITATION
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SEE WHAT ALL THE TALK IS ABOUT........
The LAC Drumming Experience
Drumming is traditionally a form of rhythm that honors the heartbeat of Mother Earth.
There are many types of
Drumming Circles hosted in CNY.
At LAC, we follow a tradition of “intuitive drumming”. This concept opens the forum to all! Anyone who has or has not drummed before can hold the beat of Mother Earth and feel the power of remembering that we are all connected;
we are all One.
Bring a drum, rattle, jingle bells, stick or just yourself! We may have some extras on hand
We enjoy two hours of rhythm.
No teaching or soliciting or speeches.
Feel the energy!
Feel the inspiration!
Feel the passion!
We start at 7pm with a quiet moment to set our intentions, then a beat….
The rest of the evening is Intuitively lead by our minds, bodies & Spirit!
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More About Drumming
THE MAGIC OF DRUMMING CIRCLES
People from many different backgrounds are getting together to create connections through the sheer joy of drum rhythms. Drumming circles are the ultimate stress reducer, the Prozac of the natural world if you will. It is a time for everyone to get together and just be. Natural bio-chemicals in the body are released which help boost the immune system, among other things Inner chatter is instantly quieted, and a peaceful meditative state is often the result, as the drum connects with your own heartbeat. Adults re-learn how to play and have fun because remember, the drum is the ear of the Great Mystery. Peace on earth becomes a reality.
MESSAGES FROM THE DRUM- I am Mother Earth's heartbeat and the sacred gift of Creation.
- I am the universal heartbeat of the seen and unseen worlds.
- I put the drummer in touch with creation itself.
- I speak to all people equally and peacefully.
- I fulfill and create spiritual, mental, emotional and physical balance.
- I am a powerful non-verbal form of peaceful communication.
- I am the practice of peace.
- I am renewal, re-growth and fulfillment.
- I am the pulse of the Universe.
- I am alert, alive and ready to move the drummer to another state of consciousness.
- My top represents the sky.
- My bottom represents the earth.
- My stitching represents the warriors for peace who play me.
- I am the ancient wisdom of the Ancestors.
- The hand of the drummer is never raised in anger.
- The hand of the drummer should not be raised above the heart, for I am peace, I release tension, emotional stress and mental fatigue.
- I reconnect with the natural rhythms of the drummer.
- I remind you that Creation is alive and sacred.
- I take you to the dream world to let your unconscious speak with your conscious in safety and harmony.
- When you play with me there is a synchronization of energy, a unity and a common purpose.
A Gift from Grandmother Selma - Ocali Nation (see link)
Words of Wisdom
Traditional teaching is as relevant today as it was in the time of my Ancestors. It is a blueprint for human behavior - it connects us to the teachers of the natural and supernatural worlds, celestial beings, plants, animals, earth, air, fire, water -- respected equals, in other words, whose unique traits provide models for living in a "good way." There are lessons to be learned from both the seen and unseen worlds -- to be passed down from generation to generation through songs, drumming, stories, sharing, caring, medicine wheel teachings and ceremony." --
Grandmother Selma - Ocali Nation
Make a Drum Workshop
with Dan and Sandi
Make a full size djembe in a 2 day workshop. Use woodburning, painting and carving techniques in our woodshop. Day two challenges your endurance as we stretch and pull creating a beautifully sounding drum. Our drum kit includes a solid wood base, goat skin, rings and ropes. Just bring yourself and get ready for some creative fun in the woodshop!
Call to Register
To register, email or call Sandra
(315)234-9333
Photos from our April 2009
Drum Making Workshop:
DRUM WORKSHOPS:
- Weekly Drum Classes
- Drum Making
LAC Drum Circles 2012
Dates are subject to change, please double check before heading to LAC for drumming
February 17th
7-9pm
March 16th 7-9pm
April 20th 7-9pm
May 18th 7-9pm
June 15th 7-9pm
July(2nd Fri.) 13th
7-9pm
August 17th 7-9pm
September 21st
7-9pm
October 19th 7-9pm
November 16th
7-9pm
December 28th
7-9pm
Drummers
PLEASE READ:
***Please call if weather seems ify.
*****Dates may change if in conflict with ongoing art classes.
******Please call to sign up
Friday 7-9pm
Donations are Welcome...
... Any amount received during our events fund our teen program. This helps us offer extras at no additional cost to parents. You cansponsor a Teen with just a few dollars in change.
~Thnx
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Email questions about our DRUM MAKING WORKSHOPS
See Below for pics of past workshops
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If you have never attended a drumming circle before, here are helpful hints :
Drum Circle Etiquette & Advice for Beginners
By Arthur Hull
Don’t wear rings, watches, or bracelets while playing drums. This protects the head on the drum as well as the drum itself from the metal. It also protects your hands.
Ask permission before playing somebody else’s drum. For some drummers, his or her instrument is a very personal possession. Also if someone gets up and leaves the circle to get a drink or go to the bathroom, don’t immediately jump in and take their seat. In some drumming communities the drummers will put something on their seat, cover her or his drum with something, or lay their drum on it’s side to signify that they will be back.
Listen as much as you play. By listening to what’s going on in the circle as you play, you will have a better sense of how you might fit into the groove that is being created.
Support the fundamental groove that you hear in the drum song being created in the circle. You don’t have to be a rhythm robot and hold down the same part all night long. There is plenty of freedom within the fundamental groove to experiment with while expressing your rhythmical spirit.
Leave rhythmical space for other players in the circle to express themselves. Don’t fill up the space with your own notes so much that there isn’t much creative space left for the other players.
Play at the volume of the group. If you can only hear yourself, you are probably not having a constructive musical relationship with the rest of the players in the circle. Good volume dynamics create good relationship dynamics. Play softly enough so that you can hear everyone around you. While you are drumming, be sure to follow and support the dynamic changes in volume and tempo that the group will go through during a drum circle event.
Share the solo space. If you are at the advanced level of rhythmical expertise where soloing with your drum is available to you, then you know the excitement and pleasure of being able to play over, around, and through the drum circle groove. Soloing through a drum circle groove is very much like a bird flying through the forest. But the “solo air” above can’t accommodate more than a few people soloing at the same time. If there is more than one soloist available in a circle be sure to share the solo space with them. The best way for two or three drum soloists to play through the groove together is to have a “drum dialogue” with eachother. In a facilitated drum circle event a good facilitator will have found all of the advanced drummers in the circle and would be “show casing” them individually or encouraging them to trade solos with each other.
Don't smoke in the circle.Drumming is a high energy aerobic exercise. Respect the need of everyone to breath uncontaminated air in such a closely packed environment.
Advice for Beginners
Along with the standard Arthurian drum circle etiquette suggestions, I have some advice for beginning beginners who are joining a drum circle event for the first time.
Enjoy the Journey. In all the excitement don’t forget to have fun. Although it will help you to follow the simple Drum Circle Etiquette guide lines, you don’t really have to be an experienced drummer to fully participate and have a good time.
Don’t worry even if you might think that you are rhythmically challenged. Just get started and you will find rhythms inside of you that you didn’t know you had. All you have to do is actively participate in the drum circle event, and the excitement and rhythms that will surround you will pull out of you exactly what you need to fully contribute to the group song. You don’t even need to play a drum. You can bring a simple percussion instrument, like a shaker, a bell or a wood block. They are a lot easier to play than a hand drum.
Support the drum community experience. If you are participating in a drum circle event for the first time, the best way to play is with an attitude of humility and support. Be very observant of the actions and reactions of the more advanced drummers who are playing in the circle and you will learn a lot quickly.
Keep it simple. Listen for, then play along with, and around the pulse that will always be somewhere in the music. It is like keeping the side of the pool within reach as you are learning how to swim. The simple pulse will always be there for you to “grab on to” if you ever get rhythmically lost while playing. Once you are comfortable with what you are playing, you can explore deeper rhythmical waters. Just keep the pulse in site.
Just Ask. Every rhythm event is different, and has it’s own particular variations of Drum Circle Etiquette. If you’re not sure what’s appropriate, just ask somebody. They usually will respond with supportive suggestions.
There is a basic agreement in these kind of events: That each person in the circle is there to share their rhythmical spirit and personal energy with the community that is present. With this kind of group consciousness, a drum circle can be a very powerful, yet intimate experience for everybody as they create unity in their community by drumming together. Your drumming skill level is less important than how much of yourself you contribute to the experience. If every player is there to share their spirit and have fun, the musical part of any drum circle it will take care of itself.
All are welcome. We always hope to see our drumming friends return. As we respect and support each other, we allow for growth and union.
Here is a glimpse into the wonderful experience shared during our 2009 drum making workshop.
New friend connections were made and a new sense of strength in finding a place within the hearts of so many very special people.
Many thanks to Stan. We honor your wisdom, craftsmanship and beautiful spirit! Come back soon!!
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