Djembe Drum

Students are about halfway through creating their miniature Djembe drums! I'm excited to test them out tomorrow and get students started on learning drumming rhythms. I'll walk you through the process:

First students had to construct their armature by cutting out the bottom of two cups and taping it together. The armature is the base for their papier-mâché.

Then, students started the papier-mâché process by using strips of newspaper dipped in art paste. The goal was to apply several layers of the newspaper to the armature to create a hard cast.

In between two of the layers, students worked together with their groups to devise a plan for their drum decoration. I provided them with several ideas, including symbols, colors, and animals, and students collaborated on how to create a set of cohesive drums.

Once the drum was dried and sturdy (with about three days worth of papier-mâché), students are applying gesso to the drum. Gesso is a primer that covers the newspaper and provides a surface for painting their designs. 

In the upcoming classes, students will be painting their designs, with the exception of one class who are using colored pencils or markers to decorate a skirt that will be glued to their drums. I'm really liking the artwork these students are drawing; they are able to show more details with the dry materials than they would have with paint.

As tomorrow is Picture Day, students will not be painting because I do not want to risk anyone dirtying up their nice clothes before their pictures. Instead, students will be learning drum rhythms and then start creating the rhythm they plan to use for their performance.