I like drums
Oct. 25th, 2025 09:04 pmLast Sunday I was walking across City Hall plaza after ringing and heard drums. I like drums. I may have even said so out loud, to myself. Someone handed me a flyer with the order of the groups - Haitian, Irish, Chinese, Malian (sp?), Lebanese?, two different indigenous groups from Massachusetts, someone from the African American history museum on Beacon hill doing a dramatic reading, probably others I've forgotten. Not just drums, but other instruments, but rhythm was a theme of the afternoon. It was great. I ended up listening for an hour and a half. There were not very many people in the audience. I had not heard of the event beforehand. They should have done more publicity.
Have members of various groups pulled into a dabke

At today's pungmul practice I felt that I had suddenly been rocketed into several levels past my comfort zone. The leader would recite a rhythm and expect us to do it? We've started singing? There was an earnest discussion about her perception that we were rushing. I said that I don't have basis for comparison, but that it wasn't clear to me that it was happening. I made the point that rushing is different from being fast, generally. This is a problem with my tap class sometimes - even if the music is fast, it doesn't mean that you should rush past the beat. I didn't mention this thought. I may have insulted the buk player by saying that I was basing my speed on hers. I certainly didn't mean to imply that she's not doing a good job, because I think she is.
Buk
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/F8oAAOSwQVNjkap7/s-l1600.webp
Out of the blue the leader asked if I would like to play the jing at a workshop in a month or so. I immediately said yes. I think she was startled. How was she to know that I would be itching to play a low-pitched bronze percussion instrument?

I would have to be walking around while doing this at the time. The buk player pointed out that it's heavier than my drum. I've watched a bunch of videos and everybody holds it in their left hand while striking it with the right. My right arm is stronger - if necessary, could I do it the other way around? I don't know why not. Maybe I'll start walking around the house with a dumbbell, just to bulk up (as if, one might think).
Have members of various groups pulled into a dabke

At today's pungmul practice I felt that I had suddenly been rocketed into several levels past my comfort zone. The leader would recite a rhythm and expect us to do it? We've started singing? There was an earnest discussion about her perception that we were rushing. I said that I don't have basis for comparison, but that it wasn't clear to me that it was happening. I made the point that rushing is different from being fast, generally. This is a problem with my tap class sometimes - even if the music is fast, it doesn't mean that you should rush past the beat. I didn't mention this thought. I may have insulted the buk player by saying that I was basing my speed on hers. I certainly didn't mean to imply that she's not doing a good job, because I think she is.
Buk
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/F8oAAOSwQVNjkap7/s-l1600.webp
Out of the blue the leader asked if I would like to play the jing at a workshop in a month or so. I immediately said yes. I think she was startled. How was she to know that I would be itching to play a low-pitched bronze percussion instrument?
I would have to be walking around while doing this at the time. The buk player pointed out that it's heavier than my drum. I've watched a bunch of videos and everybody holds it in their left hand while striking it with the right. My right arm is stronger - if necessary, could I do it the other way around? I don't know why not. Maybe I'll start walking around the house with a dumbbell, just to bulk up (as if, one might think).

