I've got a new drum

[Red Sea Blue <Jess...>]

Hi,

Whilst I don't normally compute on shabbat I was inspired by my experience
last night, so much so that I wanted to share it with you and do a bit of
keyboard tapping.

Straight after Hava Nashira I hung out in Evanston for a couple of days
(there is a great guitar shop), useful transition period. I arrived home
(England) on Wednesday morning and by Thursday everything seemed miserable.
I called my best mate and ran through my list of woes on the telephone and
at the end of the conversation she said

"Oh you're always depressed on coming back from Hava Nashira aren't you?"

"Oh I guess so I said". She was right. I guess you could call it seasonal
cycles.

However whilst in Evanston I decided to fulfil a five year dream and
purchase for myself a Djembe (an African drum). Its pretty big and I was
adamant that it was going as hand luggage. At the gate the lady said to me
"That's too big to go as hand luggage" and (unusually forcefully for me) I
said "There is a drum in it I am not checking it in". She said "it is up to
the cabin crew" and let me through. They didn't even wink and everything
was fine and dandy.

But the real reason for writing this email is I decided to take my drum to
shool last night. I frequently am part of the guitar band at shool that
accompanies the service. We have a trio on 6 string accoustics, but I play
bass, someone else plays rhythm and we have a bluesy lead. It has only
developed over the past year but I think the kehillah really enjoy it (the
guitar players like it, that's for sure). But yesterday I turned up with
drum and guitar (a bit greedy perhaps) and daring but it you don't try you
don't know what happens. Now for anyone who doesn't know a djembe is about
three times the size of Jeff's dumbek, they are big and very powerful. In
fact my band are so pleased with it I think it is going to become the
centre piece of our tour!

I said to the Rabbi (who fortunately I have a good relationship with) "I
have a new drum"  "Yes he said, I can see" (non-committal reply I thought).
So I just though I would go for it, keep the bottom down (dulls the sound)
and play as appropriate and I feel that it went down well. I enjoyed
playing it and I feel that it filled out our prayer. Ultimately the Rabbi
approved, as certainly the singers and guitar chorus did. I think the drum
could become a regular part of our Friday night service and add much
richness in the process.

I guess my community is quite informal but I'm sure there much be other
people on this discussion group who use drums in shool. I know Jeff K has,
certainly at least in their less formal shabbat morning service. Just try
things (in co-operation with the powers that be) and see what happens.

In regards to Hava Nashira evaluation - I certainly feel that some small
group activities led by competent participants is a positive way forward.
In terms of local events I feel the more the merrier because more people
will be reached. It takes a very committed song-leader to attend a national
or inter-national event, time/money. These won't be the great Hava Nashira
with Debbie Jeff and the English, (I mean what would Hava Nashira be
without the English?) but local support and ideas is what we all need.

I really missed the Hava Nashira Erev Shabbat service but my drum was a
minor compensation.

Much love to everyone

Jess
xxxx