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Drum circle facilitators consider many factors when determining their ideal instrument collection, including transportation and mobility; quality, durability, and affordability; a variety of timbres; implements and accessibility; cleanability; and facilitation resources. As a drum circle facilitator and enthusiast, it took me many years to understand how to balance these different factors. Along the way, I often felt I needed a guide to assist me. While I didn’t have that guide then, I’ve created it for you now! Our vast selection of instruments, accessories, and resources will fit in various settings and the guidelines below will help you create your wish list. If you find yourself needing further assistance or specific recommendations, contact me! I’m always excited to learn more about your needs and customize packages for your specific population or participants. The West Music team is always here to help you play now, play for life.

As you read more about the options, know that our curated collection of suggested drum circle instruments and accessories will have a variety of the products discussed below.

Transportation and Mobility

If—like many facilitators—you travel to your drum circle locations and bring your equipment with you, you need to consider how to physically get into buildings, safely transport instruments, promptly set up, and not be exhausted and out of breath before you even begin. Outfitting your instruments with drum bags, cases, and carts will protect your investment, save on transportation time, and lessen your physical exertion. We have many that may work for you!

Quality, Durability, and Affordability

Choosing instruments that fit your budget requirements and will be long-lasting, sound great, and appealing to your participants are the keys to your success! Our outstanding selection of instruments includes products by Basic Beat, Remo, and more.

The Remo brand is well-known in the drum circle world. Thoughtfully and sustainably made out innovative and renewable resources, these products are extraordinarily durable and don’t require the care and maintenance of natural skins. Our longtime partnership with the Remo company has resulted in multiple products for the drum circle world and we continue to work together to enhance your programming!

We take great pride in our Basic Beat products and accessories. As a West Music brand, we’ve designed and chosen these instruments and accessories for the needs of our customers and each is backed by our Basic Beat warranty. If you are not fully satisfied with a Basic Beat purchase or if there are any defects with the product within the first year, let us know. We will be happy to exchange it for a replacement item or merchandise credit and we will cover the costs associated with the return and replacement shipping.

Timbres Matter!

Knowledgeable drum circle facilitators set their circles up with instruments to balance their ensemble and to encourage all levels of participation. Considering the mix of timbres (the type of sound) is important. A combination of drums, metals, shakers, scrapers, woods, specialized effects, and pitched percussion will create a variety of sound and accentuate the balance and energy of your circle. Additionally, different timbres may appeal to different populations; a wide variety will ensure that everyone finds something they are comfortable playing. I recommend having a balance of larger and smaller-bodied drums strategically placed throughout the circle, then adding other timbres into the mix.

Every facilitator is encouraged to have a bass sound in their circle to help with melding the ensemble. If you’re looking for bass drums that will sit stationary on the floor or ground, the Remo Bahia Bass drums are perfect and available in various sizes and finishes. If you need a bass sound in a smaller drum at a slightly different price point, I always recommend the Remo Bahia Buffalo Drum, it sounds “like melted butter” and is one of my favorite bass sounds of all time.

A few Remo Tubanos, Frame Drums, or Sound Shapes are a great start to building your drum collection. Placing different shakers at every chair is a wonderful invitation to players that might be intimidated by the larger drums. Shakers can be found in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Scrapers, such as güiros and Basic Beat Frog Rasps, are always a hit! Be mindful of metals, like cowbells and agogo bells, as they can overpowering. In the right hands they will be harmonious but I recommend smaller overall quantities. Specialized effects and pitched percussion such as the Remo Harmony Bars, Boomwhackers, or West Music Canary and Quack Sticks, will add fun, melody, and harmony to your ensemble giving it a new edge.

Implements and Accessibility

Do your participants need mallets or sticks to play? Do they need drum stands? Do you need straps for drums so you can move around? Implements and accessories will enhance the experience. Additionally, consider if your participants have special needs: can they hold implements or instruments for long periods of time? Do they have motor skill limitations? Do you need instruments that are quieter or have limited overtones for populations with sound sensitivities? These are all questions to ask yourself when deciding upon the right equipment for your circle. We have plenty of options for you!

Cleanability

Do you need to be able to wipe down your instruments after each use? If so, you’ll want to choose non-porous surfaces that can be cleaned. Most disinfecting wipes and/or antibacterial wipes will do the job (another reason I love Remo synthetic heads). Additionally, if you want drums specifically designed for frequent cleaning, try the Remo Green and Clean series.

Resources to get started

Our fantastic collection of printed resources were written by some of the most well-known drum circle facilitators to get you started integrating a rhythm event, whether you’re in a classroom, after-school program, recreational program, wellness group, community drum circle, or wherever you can imagine making a rhythmic difference in the lives of those who will experience your skills!

Looking for more information on Village Music Circle drum circles, trainings, or finding a facilitator?

Village Music Circles
Drum Circle Facilitators Guild

And, again, I’m excited and ready to help you each step of the journey! When you’re ready, give us a call and we can help guide you with the instruments, accessories, and resources that are perfect for you!

Tereasa Evans

Tereasa Evans

Tereasa Evans is the Music Education Consultant for Classroom Percussion and Wellness.  She has her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and her Master’s of Music in Percussion Performance, has her Level I, II, and III Orff-Schulwerk certification, has taught elementary music in the state of Florida for 10 years, along with participating in and directing various indoor, marching/DCI, and percussion ensembles throughout Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Florida.  She has performed on many platforms including symphony orchestras, world music ensembles, drum corps, and drum circles.  Tereasa is also certified in Remo HealthRhythms facilitation, Beat the Odds, and currently pursuing her Drums Alive Master Trainer status.  She manages products for music therapists, music educators and the general hobbyists specifically related to unpitched percussion in an elementary music classroom.  She works with West Music’s own music therapy department to produce and provide instruments to meet the needs of music therapists not only for the in-house department but customers around the country.  She also works with major percussion manufacturers to meet the needs of her customers.  Whether she’s striking, shaking, scraping, drumming, or breaking instruments it’s all for a good reason and to benefit her customers.