Mike's Kindred Drums

HISTORY: Mike’s experience with drums and other musical instruments began a long time before he came to live in Tasmania. Mike was born in Ireland and spent his teenage years living there.

It’s hard to travel around Ireland without being greeted, either in a pub or on the streets, by local musicians. They seem to appear from nowhere, entertaining not only themselves but any passers by who care to stop and listen. Mike grew up in this environment, where rhythm and music were a way of life. As a child, he played various types of drums and later, studied the classical guitar for many years.

Mike has his own successful wood-turning business and about six years ago some clients began asking Cheryl 'would your Mike be able to make me a drum like yours'. Soon Mike had a long list of people who wanted their own personal Shaman drum. The seed was sown. Mike began to research methods of producing a high quality drum that would have a wonderful resonance, be comfortable to hold for long periods of time, and was both light and very strong. 'Kindred Drums' was born.

Making the Drums
In Tasmania we have some of the finest timbers for craftwork in the world. Mike spent a long time researching the various qualities of these timbers to find the best for making the hoops for his drums. Each drum is hand made from quality Tasmanian timbers, either Blackwood, Celery Top Pine, Myrtle, Huon Pine or King Billy Pine. The carefully prepared segments are glued together to form the hoop, which forms the backbone of the drum.

After it has been allowed to cure, it is then shaped and polished before the skin is attached. The selection of the skin is important for the life sounds of a drum. Mike uses either Deer or Goat skins and each has its own unique qualities. He has a supplier who understands exactly what quality and features he requires.

Kindred Drums
Cheryl's work is very intense with long playing times and, to make it more comfortable to hold, Mike developed and made what he calls a ‘Kindred Donut’ which is attached to the centre of the lacing.

OTHER USES: Shamanic work isn’t the only way Cheryl and Mike use their drums. They stood on top of Mount Wellington, when it was covered with snow and a howling wind, and played their drums. It was a wonderful feeling to be up high looking out over Hobart with the wind taking the sound of the drums off into the distance – an exciting and very powerful experience.

Mike and Cheryl have spent many hours sitting around camp fires drumming with groups of friends. This is a very special thing to do. There is something hypnotic about a fire and, when combined with the beat of a drum, it can be a very rewarding and healing experience.

One of the other special places that they have drummed is in Wielangta forest, an area of rain forest on the East coast of Tasmania that has been preserved. Some of the trees would be many hundreds of years old and they stand tall over the countless species of fern that fight to survive underneath. There is a short walk into the heart of this forest and that is where they drummed.