What do you get when you mix 12 enthusiastic students, 20-litre plastic buckets, a mountain of upcycled fabric, and a whole lot of community spirit? An absolutely unforgettable two-day drum circle workshop!
During the final week of term, our Year 7 and 8 students transformed everyday recycled objects into fully functioning, beautifully designed drums. It was a masterclass in creativity, sustainability, and rhythm.
Day 1: Visuals, Vibes, and Drum Skins
We kicked off Day 1 by diving into a world of colour and texture. Students explored a vibrant array of fabrics, experimenting with how different patterns could be paired together for a bold, eclectic look, while others opted for a sleek, uniform style.
Once the designs were locked in, the students prepped their drums with a quick sand so everything would bond perfectly. Next came the most exciting and crucial part of the build: layering duct tape tightly across the top to engineer a responsive drum skin. Depending on where they struck the drum, they could create a deep, booming bass, a resonant tom, or a sharp, snappy snare. Finally, they glued their chosen fabrics over the buckets to bring their visions to life, leaving them to set overnight.
Day 2: Finishing Touches and Finding the Groove
Day two was all about adding unique flair. Some students had incredibly elaborate, ambitious ideas for their instruments, so ambitious that a few may even be finalising them over the school holidays.
We were fortunate to be visited by Lily Beacham and Alex Faulkner, two third-year Unitec Performing and Screen Arts students, who jumped straight into the chaos. They helped our students with the finishing touches, with plenty of extra cutting and gluing to bring everyone’s creative visions to life.
Once the glue finally dried, it was time for the ultimate test: making some noise. Miss MacK led the group through some practice beats, and the students learned exactly which part of the drum skin made which sound, and how a hard strike or a light tap changed the whole vibe. Lily and Alex then stepped back in to work with the students on some more advanced beats.
The highlight was a truly magical moment when the entire drum circle aligned and played in perfect unison, the students carrying a beat together, from the first concept to the finished drum.
A Huge Community Thank You
As the saying goes, it takes a village, and this project would not have happened without the generosity of our community. A massive thank you to:
- Michelle Hazeldine and her husband for donating the 20-litre plastic buckets, the fundamental building blocks of our drums.
- Tom Kipa (T.Kipa Concrete Services) for the generous supply of duct tape used to engineer our multi-tonal drum skins.
- The MPHS Tipping Point for supplying the fabrics, foam for our bass pads, and glue guns.
- Lily Beacham and Alex Faulkner (Unitec Performing and Screen Arts) for sharing their time and expertise, and jamming out with the students.
Future Percussionists in the Making
Every student took home their custom drum and drumsticks. They are bound to have a wonderful time carrying on with their music, and we extend a gentle apology to parents for the potential lack of peace and quiet over the holidays.
Who knows? We might just have sparked the passion of some future percussionists. Thank you again to everyone who helped make this workshop such a success.
