Drums

[Oldscout448]

So does anyone else use a drum or a flute in the ceremonies?

[The Latin Scot]

Our chapter has a huge, authentic war drum donated by a local tribe; the thing is a BEAST and can be heard from over a mile and a half away on a clear night. When the OA does tap-outs at Camporee, the drum is placed at the top of a hill and when the time is right, it begins a slow, steady beat which is heard through the entire camp, down into the very earth itself. Every campsite goes quiet as the OA begins its procession through the Troop campgrounds, tapping out new members, its ranks growing larger and larger with the new Scouts and those who are already members now in their sashes, slowly joining the throng and moving through the grounds until all the Troops have been visited and all the new candidates have been called out, the drum still pounding out its slow, steady rhythm. The boys then hike a distance away from the Camporee grounds into the wilderness a short ways, where they create a large circle and there receive their welcome packets and a greeting from their new OA leadership team. Only after they leave sight of the general grounds however does the beating of the drum stop. It's pretty impressive, I must confess. That instrument has a voice like you wouldn't believe.

[Oldscout448]

I just might . We have a 26" diameter boomer.  As well as a hand drum.    I threw this question up because there are a couple of nearby chapters who asked for some help and when I asked if they wanted the drum and a drummer they both said  ' No we dont have or want a drum.'       Just struck me as odd because it adds so much to our ceremonies,  

[MikeS]

Yes, we use hand drums and flute as the Candidates proceed to the ceremony ring - it's a long path through the woods so plenty of places to situate oneself unseen by the Candidates, but the music heard by all who are in the area.

It works quite nice if players are familiar with the instruments and are actually playing a piece and not just making 'sound'. 

We have a huge hand drum that is used for some ceremonies which, on a quiet night on a lakefront, can be heard for quite some distance.   

Edited May 15, 2018 by MikeS