A frame drum has humble and yet powerful beginnings in a bath of "hot lime" and cold water.
I include pictures of me using a break knife and an ulu for preparing the hide, and show how I cut out the drum head.
I even share a secret for finishing the drum hoop to keep the dried drum skin from buzzing when played for the shamanic journey.
I demonstrate the most important first cut that fits the skin to the hoop and "sets the drum voice."
There are lots of images of constructing the back of the drum: punching holes and lacing thongs to anchor the back of the drum to the cedar withie that keeps the drum skin stable and balanced on the hoop.
Even when completely dry, the drum is not complete without the interlacement pattern I weave inside the cedar ring that becomes the hand hold for the drummer.
See the full story of how the Cloud Drum was made on facebook.
