Collecting world percussion instruments
Keri Elvin is the PAC chairperson and director. She is the founder of the Performing Arts Collective and is the leader of AFINCA, The African drumming performance group. Keri runs regular workshops in African drumming and percussion, sharing her collection and knowledge of world instruments including taonga puoro (traditional Māori instruments).
Opportunities to participate in the percussion workshops are available in July.
When I attended a local drumming circle a few years back, I was inspired to begin collecting percussion instruments myself. I started with my first djembe, a frog guiro and maracas that I bought from Bali Teak in Bulls, after playing many instruments in the shop to check their tone.
Over the years I have enjoyed adding to the collection, finding those Bali Teak shops that specialize in cultural instruments. I found an ektara, a one stringed instrument and a bone shaker in Singapore at Sonny Wee’s amazing shop, tucked away down an alleyway that we found by accident when we took a shortcut to a bus stop.
A few starter items from Keri’s collection
I invested in the simplest instrument ever for people who say that they can’t play an instrument. It’s a woodpecker where you pull a string and the beak makes a knocking sound. The challenge is to pull the string at the right time in the rhythm.
I went to a Rock Shop workshop a few years ago and was introduced to the thunder box. Can’t believe how such an amazing sound can come from something so simple. The rattlesnake xylophone is another instrument that children are drawn to, with so many unusual sounds that they can get from the one instrument.
Shakers, bamboo xylophone, thunder box, and many more items have accumulated. Keri loves having the chance to share these treasures with all ages.
Instruments that drum circle participants have loved include an amazing bamboo xylophone that I found in my favourite shop at Whitianga: “The Cave”. I purchased many a djembe and percussion instrument from there. Another is the helix bowl found in the same shop which my drummers affectionately call the plunger.
I was fortunate to come across a gorgeous bass drum on Trade Me. Beautifully carved, gorgeous deep sound and imported from Zimbabwe. Dropped into Auckland to pick this one up. Some of my drums picked up online have even been sold as coffee tables.
When travelling to Bali I could not bypass the drumming factory Bali Treasures. Pure paradise!!! I always find something different and bring home more to add to the collection. Stackable drums, large caxixi, colourful shekere and even a box didgeridoo.
Sharing my love for cultural rhythms and introducing people to unusual instruments is such a pleasure. Jamming together and choreographing our own acts for stage is the icing on the cake. Meeting new people of different nationalities with similar interests in music and cultures is just heaven!
