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Drum Making Workshops

With something so personal as your very own djembe why not make it with your own hands? If you love playing, you’ll love it even more if you created your own. You’ll have such a deep bond with your djembe; there’s something extra special about giving your own time and energy into its creation. Plus you’ll learn the skills to crank (tune) your drum into the future!

Workshops are based in Billinudgel, NSW, just a stone’s throw from Byron Bay. The whole experience will take around 6-10 hours, spread over two sessions. 

First step — ‘Choose your shell’.

Visit us at our workshop in Billinudgel or choose from our range of beautiful African drum shells here.

Our team will guide this process to help you select the perfect shell and skin type for you. 

Second step — ‘Set the head’.

By working with the rings and rope you will apply the skin to the djembe shell. It’s a pretty big day, fully hands on, and will require your focus. We have lots of laughs and our team will be right there to patiently help complete any of the steps.
We love to share what goes into making a djembe really sing. 

Third step — ‘Crank her up!’

You’ll come back a week or so later, after the skin has fully dried, to crank up your baby and get her ready to play!

Drum Making Workshop with Elliott Orr at the Torque'n the Drum workshop in Billinudgel - 'oiling the shell'
Drum Making Workshop with Elliott Orr at the Torque'n the Drum workshop in Billinudgel. Photo credit to Peter Teys.
Drum Making Workshop with Elliott - instructing Bec Hoole and Alister Murray in 'threading the skin'.

Watch the documentary where Elliott takes his students Bec and Al through the process of building their own djembes.

What you'll learn

During the workshop, you will not only walk away with your own djembe – you will also learn how to:

  • Prepare the skin. You’re going to ‘shave a goat’!
  • Prepare the shell, by oiling. 
  • Lace the rings together and set the head (mould the skin to the drum).
  • Tighten the skin and tune your djembe. 

Workshops include a lot of fun, a bit of hard work and a good jam once your drum is ready to play!

Cost

  • Cost depends on size and source of the djembe shell. Range is from $650 to $1100
  • Discounts apply for Zormiwasa members (Talkin’ The Drum students)

Also included is a free tune up within 3 months to keep your djembe singing. 

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