Indigenous Instrument Education
Last month we built a earth cob oven here at Archaic Roots during the Mystic Arts Immersion. This was one of the most influential workshops of the event, which required many hands and feet to complete throughout the weekend. Colíbrí … Continued
The slit drum is indigenous to many cultures around the world. Though in this article we will be examining the mesoamerican (includes much of modern Mexico and Central America) slit drum specific to the Americas (pre and post contact). These … Continued
As I walked through one of my first festivals almost 20 years ago, I first heard the special sounds of an udu drum. Those sounds instantly found my attention, low liquid like percussion, as if calling me from a distant … Continued
What led to your interest in learning to make instruments? I became interested in musical instruments during my early childhood in Griffin, Georgia, where friends and I would make a number of our playthings. These included non-musical items such as … Continued
When most people think of whistles they are reminded of police officers or referees at sports games, but the Aztec death whistle is an enigma within the aerophone (wind instrument) family. Whistles can be found throughout the world in many … Continued
The beautiful conch shell trumpet above was found in Mexico, and is estimated to be over 1,000 years old. At first glance this trumpet may catch your eye; it’s beauty and intricate designs. The fact that intrigues me is that … Continued