Archaic Roots, a manifestation of many years of study, practice, sacrifice and passion for ancient instruments and traditions. The  drums and instruments, indigenous instrument education presentations, drum circle facilitation and instrument building workshops found here are all inspired by traditions of our global ancestors.

We also offer unique experiences with our retreats, personal immersions, and awesome private guest room and primitive artist cabin on the Archaic Roots property, located in the Southern Appalachian wilderness. We can host your stay and offer you a unique experience while you’re here! Focus on yourself, delve into true wilderness, connect with our Mother Earth, hike to waterfalls, create art and instruments, and much more!!

Looking for repairs on your African drum or native style flute? Reach out and maybe we can help! We offer djembe and other drum re-heading and /or repair services, and repair a number of other indigenous instruments such as flutes, and didgeridoo. We also offer a intro to instrument care and maintenance online video conferences for the basics to caring for your djembe or flute.

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Transformational Workshops & Classes!

Learn more about the classes, workshops, and retreats we offer!

Experience one of our events!!

 

Frame Drum Building- Weekend Workshop
Birth your own frame drum (shaman drum) from scratch weekend! Learn the process of cleaning drum skins, building frames, and birth your own drum in one weekend!
August 10, 2018 - August 12, 2018 $175.00 Expired
Private Visionary Immersion
One of a kind experience! Custom build your immersion based on your personal goals and interests! Build instruments, hike waterfalls, personal sound journey experiences, make art, fireside stories and music making, and more.

Get lost in the forest, to find yourself.

$300.00 – $500.00 ADD TO CART
Native American Style Flute Building Workshop- September 2018
During this workshop I will be teaching you how to make your own Native American style flute. We will start with a pre-drilled square flute blank, then we will be making the sound hole (splitting edge) and channel, rounding the blank, carving a totem, adjusting the key, adding the holes and tuning each, decorating the flutes, and discussing the history, culture, and playing techniques. This class usually takes around 6 hours to complete, and you will be birthing your own custom flute by the end of the class.
We try to refrain from using any power tools in this process. Please be prepared to use files, hand drills, sand paper and fire to create your flute. 
 
Cost & Materials: $100 includes all materials for creating your own flute around 18″ long or less, standard tuning of A, C, G, and F are available. All other materials will be provided and are included in the price of the workshop. Also, please pack a lunch, I will provide fruit and vegetables for snacks.
September 22, 201810:00 am $100.00 BOOK NOW
Ghana Djembe
Djembe Building Workshop-10-13-18
This workshop will provide you with all the supplies and guidance necessary to build your own personal djembe drum. During the building process, where you will birth your own drum, I will teach you how to build and take care of your drum, in a sacred setting. This workshop will give you all the knowledge necessary to repair and tune your djembe in the future!  You can choose to place a non-refundable deposit for the event, or make a full payment, each depending on the kind of shell you would like to build.  This class will take place at my studio in the North Georgia mountains near Tallulah Falls, GA; about 1.5 hours away from Atlanta and Asheville. Please consider this trip in your plans for the day. Directions will be given upon receiving your deposit. Remaining payment after deposit is due on day of class, no refunds but rescheduling is welcome. All deposits are required at least 7 days before workshop date. 
October 13, 201810:00 am $150.00 – $350.00 BOOK NOW

About The Artist- William A. Rodriguez

From a young age I was always intrigued with ancient cultures and my more “primitive” and distant ancestors. That tribal connection and the unique cultural perspectives called to me from the past, almost as if my DNA demanded it. At around 10 years old my interest in learning about ethnic traditions blossomed, which led me into finding “the zone” in karate, meditation, yoga, running and so on. As a teen I was entranced by the ancestral heritage ingrained in many of my ancestors cultures, and a few years later I found the drum.

The drum started me on my path of learning about a multitude of ancient instruments, then learning to repair and make those instruments, which then led into teaching. I started teaching about indigenous instruments when my oldest son was in pre-k and asked me to bring some in for show and tell, and what started as a few drums being brought to his school, ended up being large collections of instruments and detailed presentations in the later years as he aged.

Now I teach groups like scouts and at festivals and venues facilitating my instrument education presentations and instrument building workshops, braiding culture and traditional knowledge and myth into each presentation. My passion for learning and teaching about indigenous instruments constantly evolves and integrates new history, techniques and cultures. Each event is facilitated in an organic nature, with no two events exactly the same.

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