West African Drumming – Primary – 30 Wide Top Djembe Drum Set

Our djembes are all made by hand using top quality materials and traditional techniques.

Wooden Djembes

Our wooden drums are made from logs of sustainably grown mahogany and are certified by the international SVLK system. The smaller sizes are made from timber offcuts left over after bigger pieces have been selected for furniture, flooring or for bigger drums.

The wooden log is cut to size and then turned on a lathe to produce the rough djembe shell. The rough shell is then finished by hand to high standards of shape, thickness and smoothness. The top rim is very carefully rounded and finished so as to give a comfortable playing experience, and the inside shape is honed so that the drum can later produce a good balance of frequencies produced byt the main slap, bass and tone techniques.

The drum shell is then treated against insect infestation and left to dry in the sun for several days so that the moisture content reduces. After this a groove is carved slightly above the drum waist ready to receive the first of 3 welded steel rings, which will later provide the foundation for the drum’s stringing. The 3 steel rings are made from strong steel rods, which are cut to length and welded into circles. The lower ring has to be welded right onto the drum. You’ll find that lesser quality drums often use plaited metal wires instead of welded steel and over time these can move or stretch and can cause problems.

Next the shell is treated either with natural linseed oil or a natural-base sealer, to protect it against scratching, or, if it’s a painted style, the shell is sent off to the painting specialists.

After this a piece of high quality tanned goatskin is cut to size and fitted over the drum head under the top metal ring. The drum skin we use is thicker than that used by many other suppliers as we’ve found that this not only makes the drums much more durable, but also makes for a mellower tone. Next we use traditional stringing techniques to stretch the goatskin between the three metal rings, gradually increasing the tension until it produces a satisfying note. We always leave enough spare string attached to the Djembe so that, should you need to, it will be possible to use this to tune it up at some later date using the Mali weave technique (see Care & Maintenance section). We then add further coats of linseed oil or sealer and our signature rubber base, which not only protects the drum from cracking if it gets dropped, it also protects polished floors and tables from impact damage as well.

Finally we check the playing head diameter and other dimensions, we re-check all the drum edges and surfaces to make sure there are no splinters or sharp edges, we recheck the finishing quality and the tuning and, if necessary, retune the drum. Only then does the Djembe get final QC signed off as meeting Drums for Schools standards.

Bamboo Djembes

Our unique bamboo djembes are made using traditional basket weaving techniques using the skin from locally harvested bamboo. The weaving is done over a mould the shape of the djembe, to ensure that the finished product is a standard size.

A strong wooden ring, shaped exactly the same as the top of a wooden djembe, is then connected to the bamboo shell and the bamboo shell is reinforced on the inside with a mix of resin and sawdust. This gives rigidity to the drum and it also makes sure that it’s completely air-tight and resonant.

A thick natural goatskin is then stretched over the drum head and tightened using exactly the same traditional techniques as are used for our wooden djembes and a rubber base is also added, same as for the wooden ones.

Finally we check the playing head diameter and other dimensions, we re-check all the drum edges and surfaces to make sure there are no splinters or sharp edges, we recheck the finishing quality and the tuning and, if necessary, retune the drum. Only then does the Djembe get final QC signed off as meeting Drums for Schools standards.

Djembes and most other drums are extremely tough and will give satisfaction for 10 years and longer, if you treat them with care and follow the guidelines below.

Wooden drum shells should be kept at a reasonably constant temperature and humidity (normal room temperature is best) and not placed near to a heat source or stored in damp conditions. The drum skins are the most fragile part and can tear if mistreated, so be sure to keep sharp points or hard objects away from them (this includes rings – best to take them off before playing).

All our djembe drums are hand made using natural materials, which gives them great natural vibrations and tactility, and also makes them sensitive to environmental conditions.

You’ll find that the pitch of your djembe drum varies depending on temperature and humidity. High humidity and low temperature result in a low skin tension and pitch, whereas higher temperature and a dry environment make for a higher tension and a higher pitch.

If you’re playing in a cold and/or damp room, or if the djembe has been stored in one, and the skin isn’t tight and the drum sounds flat then the quick way to tune it up is to put it in the sun for a few minutes or use a hair dryer or an iron over a towel (but don’t use the “steam” setting!) to warm the skin.

If you find the djembe keeps losing its pitch then the traditional Mali weave technique, which uses the spare rope wrapped around the drum, provides a longer term solution. This is the professional way to do it, and once you’ve done it a couple of times, you’ll find it’s very quick and easy.

Take a look at the following video and try it for yourself.

We use the best quality materials and traditional manufacturing methods to make our West African Drumming instruments and accessories and they’re designed for serious, long term use in the classroom. Looked after properly the instruments will give many years of satisfaction, even if used several times a day and the materials and workmanship are guaranteed as follows:

Djembe and other drum shells – 10 years. But keep at a stable temperature and humidity and don’t let the shells get damp or wet. Don’t leave in direct sunlight or near a heat source as this can cause the wood to dry out and crack. Although they’re naturally tough, handle with respect and don’t drop them or throw them about as rough treatment can also cause cracks to appear.

Drum skins -5 years. But keep hard or sharp points (including rings and other jewellery) away from drum skins at all times. Keep skins dry and don’t leave in direct sunlight or near a heat source as this can cause the skin to dry out and split. If you need to tighten the drum skins, be sure not to over do it as over-tightening can also cause skins to split.

Hand percussion instruments – 1 year. But treat with care and don’t drop them or handle roughly as natural materials are not as strong as plastics and may crack or break, particularly if dropped on a hard surface.

Storage/carry bags and accessories – 2 years. But keep bags away from sharp points and don’t over-fill them or force the zips.

If you should get any problems with any of our African Drumming instruments or accessories, please take photos of the issues and email them to us with the order/invoice number and a brief description of how the problem arose and we’ll get back to you right away.

We work with a small number of specialist logistic companies to deliver your order quickly and economically. The delivery method varies, depending on your location and the size of the order, as follows:

UK Locations

Orders up to 5kg – Courier 2 to 3 working day delivery. This would typically include books, smaller instruments, percussion baskets and djembes up to 40cm.

Orders over 5kg – Courier, next working day delivery. Most orders are sent this way.

Large orders – Pallet service, 3 to 5 working day delivery. Used for large orders and those with more fragile contents.

Please note:

1. Above timings are from dispatch date. Time from placing your order will usually be one or two days longer, depending on the order and destination.
2. Delivery to offshore or Highland addresses may take longer and may cost more than to UK mainland addresses and we’ll quote and agree the costs with you in advance. Please note that in these cases it’s fine to go ahead and place your order, and there’s no obligation on your part until the delivery costs have been quoted and accepted by you.
3. For some destinations, where a courier service isn’t available, we may send by Royal Mail instead.

International Locations

Orders weighing less than 1kg and not too bulky – Post Office Airmail. This would include books and smaller percussion instruments.

Orders weighing more than about 1kg and large orders – international courier or pallet service. We’ll obtain competitive quotes and agree these with you in advance.

Please note that it’s fine to go ahead and place your international order prior to confirming shipping costs, and that there’s no obligation on your part until the delivery costs have been quoted and accepted by you. Payment for international orders, including shipping costs, is required before dispatch of the goods.

Returns

Please let us know straight away if anything arrives damaged or otherwise in a substandard condition and we’ll be happy to replace it, refund the cost or provide you with an alternative product to your satisfaction. Speed is of the essence here as most courier companies will only accept responsibility for damage in transit if the damage is reported within 24 hours of delivery.

 In the event of damage, please take photographs, including any damage to the packaging, and email these to us ASAP.

Similarly, if an instrument  develops a fault within 12 months of purchase in the course of normal use (though excluding fair wear and tear), please let us know, and we’ll replace it or refund the cost. It’s also very helpful for us to see photos of the issue as this gives us solid information for changing the design, the production method or the packing materials.

But please do contact us before returning any damaged or substandard items. Once we’ve approved their return, please send to:  Drums for Schools Limited, 21 Shaftesbury Avenue, Burton Joyce NG14 5GL 

We really appreciate your feedback in the case of faults (or if you think an instrument could be improved in any way) and we take all such feedback very seriously indeed.