Rhythm Path | Media

Drum Circle At Library A Hit

Cindy Kahler Thomas/For the Times Record News

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Drums pounded Saturday on the second floor of the Wichita Falls Public Library, in connection with the Wichita Falls Parks and Recreation Department, as David Cox facilitated a drum circle.

"Are you ready? Let's jam!" Cox said as he started off the upbeat, energetic hour of music. There were djembe drums for everyone. Cox had 72 of them on hand. A djembe drum is an African hand drum, beautifully carved with a skin stretched tight across the top. Cox has a degree in music business from the University of Texas at Arlington.

"I was teaching drum set lessons, and after I graduated, I realized I didnt want to teach band at a school," he said, "I got interested in the djembe drum and drum circles, so I researched it. I thought, 'I can do this.' I loved it, and I started doing it."

Cox started his students out with the idea that if you say it, you can play it. He showed them the high and low notes of the drum, and taught the crowd to hit the drum along with the syllables in a word. He would play a tune, and the crowd would follow along. He also told of his travels to Africa, and how the drum is used there. He sang an African song meaning "peace, welcome to you amen," that was sung to him in an African village. Every now and then someone in the crowd would get confused, but Cox took it all in stride.

"I love that I can try new things on y'all, and you just laugh," he said.

"I don't think anyone felt out of it," Maurine Klein, one of the students, said. "I love how many different ages enjoyed it. This is great."

Klein was right. There were 5-year-olds up to 85-year-olds. In fact, Klein had her two grandsons with her, ages 5 and 6. They enjoyed it so much they asked if the drums were for sale. Cox decided to keep his drums, but gave Klein a Web address where she could order some.

Laurie Humphries enjoyed the hour, and said, "I'm having a blast and the instructor makes it so easy. He teaches you coordination, while you are having fun. I would come again."

Perhaps Jeremiah Hastings summed the afternoon up with his opinion. "It kept a smile on my face," he said.