rhythma - sean michael imler

Music for the heart, mind, and spirit...

Rhythma Blog

Rhythma - Sean Michael Imler - Home
rhythma - sean michael imler

Music for the heart, mind, and spirit...


Rhythma Blog

Posts Tagged ‘drum’

SundanceFriday, April 28th, 2017


I’m at Yucca Valley and I’m near the lodge. Someone asks me to go to the drum. I go there but the drum isn’t set up. Grey, Ronan and Dave are laying under a canopy, face down on the ground with bodies erect, with their faces buried in a pile of sandy dirt. I’m like… “Ok, what does this mean?” and I hear Ronan says that they’re sticks. I notice that there are a lot of people camped. The canopies are connected together making huge rooms. There are lots of kids, colors, and shade, but they’re right over the hocoka. I’m wondering how the dance is going to take place.

Oh KindraWednesday, March 18th, 2015


I walked into a room and a I think Sandra was teaching. I had a bunch of yellow flowers in my hand. The teacher asked everyone to pick up a drum or rattle and sit down. We were going to sing a song to Kindra. She asked me to be the vocal lead. The rhythm was a polka with two backbeat hits every other time and the end of every measure, I would say, “Oh Kindra.” She really wanted me to ham it up. It was pretty fun. I did a wipeout Beach Boys Kindra, a Bella Lugosi Kindra, etc. I think Kindra was a young woman that was there.

Ceremonial DrumWednesday, September 10th, 2014


I was in this large pueblo style building. There was a ceremony just getting ready to begin. There were lots of people and beautiful crafts and flowers everywhere. I was with Lauri and she was going to be leading the procession. I was going to be drumming and sing with her, and start the procession. I was given a drum that had the same insignia as Jan’s on it, except that this was really weathered. Something in me reminded me that I used to repaint this drum before the ceremony, but this time I hadn’t gotten to it. I didn’t have a beater and asked Lauri for one. She came back with this elaborate beater that had bead on it that make a whoosh sound. I went to the front of the line and was introduced to some other drummers that were carrying large standup drums. I realized that I couldn’t remember if I was to be playing and single or double beat. I felt like I was supposed to know this and felt embarrassed to ask. I was waiting to get the signal to start but it wasn’t coming. I felt myself moving farther and farther from the front of the procession, until I was out in the street, still waiting. It was a weird sensation.

Players: Me, Lauri, some drummers
Event Sequence: Receiving drum, receiving beater, introductions, left out in street
Symbols: drum, beater, ceremony, pueblo, colorful
Thoughts: performance anxiety, leadership, responsibility


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