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| Drum FAQ's |
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Are the paints/colours safe?Yes, they’re all water-based acrylics. No lead or other nasty ingredients. Varnishes are also water-based. Are the instruments safe for babies?Babies and small children (and many grown-ups) are so creative that they’re capable of treating any inanimate object as anything from a weapon to a light snack. Although the instruments are carefully made and the colours and materials aren’t harmful, they do need to be handled responsibly. Don’t leave babies or small children to play with the instruments unless there’s a responsible adult to hand. How long will the drumskins last?The drumskins are high quality and should give many years of satisfaction providing they're treated with respect. Only use the hands or properly designed drumsticks to hit them - never hit them with sharp or pointed objects and always take off any hand jewellery before playing (even smooth metal rings can cause damage). If you use drumsticks frequently you're likely to shorten the life of the skin as sticks concentrate the force of each impact in a much smaller area. Always best to use the hands – it spreads the impact and helps to oil the skin using the natural oils on your skin. It's also a good idea to put a protective hat or drums bag on the drum when it isn't being used. Most damage to skins happens by accident (someone mistakes the drum for a side table) and so a protective cover is a really good investment.What happens if a drumskin breaks?If the worst comes to the worst, email us, preferably with a photo of the drum, as we reskin batches of drums from time to time. Or, see "Can I reskin my own drum" below. The process takes several days and the cost depends on the size and type of the drum and on the type and condition of the stringing. But be warned – reskinning drums is an expensive business – not usually less than £20. Much better to take good care of the skin!Can I reskin my own drum?Yes, it's perfectly possible, though a little strenuous and you may find that you end up doing it twice as the first time tends to be a bit of a bodge. There's a really good step-by-step guide of how to go about it at http://www.hawkdancing.com/Wooddrum/tuningadjembe.html. You'll need a good new skin and some string, both of which you can buy from us at reasonable prices – see Drum Accessories.How do I tune my djembe?This is relatively easy and only takes a few minutes once you've got the hang of it. Master drummers tend to tune their drums before they play and then slacken them off again afterwards. That way they get those amazing high slaps but only keep the drumskins at high stress when they're actually playing. For detailed instructions and lots of photos, see the brilliant step-by-step guide at http://www.hawkdancing.com/Wooddrum/tuningadjembe.html.Is it possible to arrange a visit to our school?If you'd like a visit by the Drums for Schools Roadshow, do get in touch. Depending on where you are we may be able to arrange a visiting display of instruments – all at discount prices – and possibly even a drumming workshop. These events work best if there are several schools involved so it's worth asking other schools in your area if they'd also be interested in taking part. Do I qualify for the 30% discount?Please see the Discounts & Guarantee page for more info. If you're going to use our instruments to help spread music-making, then chances are you qualify.Which instruments are suitable for under 2s?Which instruments are suitable for under 5s?Can you make a new instrument for us?We're always happy to look at making new instruments. The process is often quite a long one but it's always interesting. Email us with what you have in mind and we'll get back to you. Do you use sustainable sources of timber?Yes, and we're always looking to change to faster-growing species and to increase our use of recycled and wood waste products. Wherever possible we'll always use bamboo, local softwoods or fruits instead of hardwood – it's good for the planet and it keeps costs down too. Can we have our organisation name or logo printed or carved on our instruments?Yes. Let us know what you need and we'll send you a quote.What are the best sizes of drum for early years?40cm, 30cm and even smaller djembes are fine for small hands. But small children love the bigger drums too (and the bigger the better!) so it's nice to include a 50cm or 60cm if you've the budget for it.What are the best sizes of drum for primary schools?The 40cm and 50cm djembes are probably best, with maybe a 60cm or 65cm as well for the teacher (good for setting a bass rhythm).What are the best sizes of drum for secondary schools?The 50cm and 60cm djembes are probably best, plus some 65cms for filling out the bass
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