In Spring 2023 the University of Arizona Percussion Studio set out to learn the frame drum. As a part of this learning experience they became interested in building drums of their own! With the guidance of studio members Dan Kruse, Katelynn Ward, and Griffin Law, studio members were able to source materials and build their own frame drum. Studio members soaked goat skin heads, attached them to frames with wood glue, allowed the heads too dry, trimmed excess skin from the drum and decorated the edge of the drum. This process was incredibly fulfilling and demonstrated one way to completely customize an individual’s sound and instrument. The UA percussion ensemble performed using these custom built instruments at a recent concert at the Laboratory of Tree Ring Research!
