Greg Whitt's Blog

Drumming at Floydfest

All photos by Scott Swimmer

Drumming at Floydfest

From Thursday thru Sunday, July 22-25, 2010, Floydfest 9 was held in the secnic valleys and hills of Virginia nestled along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Tuggles Gap.  Pal Scott Swimmer of drumSTRONG invited me to tag along to help facilitate family-friendly drum circles in the Children's Universe.  Our friend Frank Bloom of Thunderdrums came from Asheville and ran sound and performed, too.  Our good friend Shorty Palmer of Djembe Drums & Skins came to hang out and tune drums for festival goers. 

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Ogres Are Like Onions

Written by Greg Whitt Monday, 19 July 2010 00:00

OGRES ARE LIKE ONIONS
Originally posted in Soundings on the Raleigh Drum Circle Yahoo Group, May 2004

SHREK: Ogres are like onions.

DONKEY: [Sniffs] They stink?

SHREK: Yes. No! Layers! Onions have layers! Ogres have layers! Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers. [Sighs]

DONKEY: Oh, you both have layers. Oh. [Sniffs] You know, not everybody likes onions. Cake! Everybody loves cakes! Cakes have layers.

from SHREK!, Dreamworks, 2001


One cool thing about visiting with kids is that you get to watch some great cartoons!  This is one of my favorites.  "Ogres are like onions."  Ha!  Now that's a philosophy!

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African Drumming - New Beginner's Class

Written by Greg Whitt Sunday, 04 July 2010 00:00

When clients initially contact me, I often explain the differences between several types of drum circles.  Of course there's the anarchistic or hippie-thunder drumming circle which has no leader and where everyone simply drums their own thing.  Then there are intentional circles with a specific focus for healing or meditation.  Plus there's my thing - facilitated community drum circles where a designated leader helps the group to reach it's greatest musical potential.  But all of it ties back to folkloric drumming traditions. 

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Sidewalk Chalk

Written by Greg Whitt Saturday, 29 May 2010 00:00

This Memorial Day weekend I hosted a cookout in my back yard for friends and neighbors.  Roughly fifteen of us were grillin' and chillin' under the trees, around the picnic table, and in the hammocks.  Like any gathering, there were certain factors at work that help to build community.  In this case, they included good food, drink, music, dance and art. 

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