Apparently I had more to say than I thought.

On Wednesday I bought a drum. It is a beautiful Djembe from Ghana with a dancing elephant on its base. I selected that particular drum after having a long conversation with the drum maker about the particular sounds of drums. I wanted a drum that sounded like who I am. I wanted something that would blend well with the steady rhythm, was not too piercing and not too deep. I didn't think I had a lot to say yet, being new to drumming and drum jams, and I wanted a drum that wasn't so powerful that it demanded to be heard. The elephant spirit seemed to be a good fit.

On Thursday I played that drum at a drum jam. Let me clarify, I played that drum, out loud, in front of people, with other drummers,one day after buying it. After practically no practice at all. I realized that this was the first time I have ever done something so "spontaneous". I realized that I usually participate like an only child (the justification I've given the learning differences I'm about to describe.) You see, I usually see something I like, something I'd like to do or know more about, and I go home and privately practice, research, and learn. When I'm comfortable with my skill level, I introduce my new interest to the public, always performing at a level below where I am comfortably. That way I know I won't mess up or fail in front of people. But I also don't grow any quicker than I can teach myself, and frankly it is kind of boring. But it was safe.

With this drum, I took it and started hitting it. I started hitting just the base note, one hit each measure. Practicing getting the nice dong sound to come from the drum. Then I added other beats as I felt able to do. Sometimes I messed up, and sometimes I lost the beat, and I'd go back to just keeping time for the other drummers. But I could hear my drum mixing in with all those others. And then, later, after I'd warmed up or gotten comfortable or what have you, I started hearing my drum on top of the others instead of below them (rhythmically). Were They following Me? Was my beat steady enough for the other drummers to build off of its base and settle into my rhythm? Could I actually be good at this drumming thing? This is amazing! This is great! This is so much fun! I didn't want to stop and I couldn't wait for the next time.

I like this concept of learning in the presence of others. In a community of people who have been there, and can remember what it was like to start.

So here's to doing more than dancing to the beat of your own drum, here's to sharing that beat with others.

Clink!