Texas Folklife’s mission is to preserve and present the folk and traditional arts of Texas while creating inclusive spaces for intergenerational exchange, cultural education, and community pride.
April 11, 2026 - Visual Folk Art (12 p.m. - 3 p.m)
This interactive workshop invites participants to explore the cultural roots of rhythm through the creation and use of handmade frame drums. Grounded in folk and traditional arts practices, the session highlights how music and instrument-making traditions are passed down through communities using accessible, everyday materials.
Participants will construct their own frame drums and engage in a guided rhythm experience that introduces foundational drumming techniques while exploring rhythm as a universal language of connection, storytelling, and cultural expression.
Part 1: Build (Hands-On Instrument Making)
Participants will create their own DIY frame drums using simple materials. This process reflects traditional instrument-making practices rooted in resourcefulness, creativity, and community knowledge-sharing.
Part 2: Learn (Cultural Context & Tradition)
A guest teaching artist will share insights into the history and cultural significance of Latino and Afro-Latino diasporic drumming traditions, grounding the experience in cultural knowledge and lived practice.
Part 3: Play (Rhythm Circle Experience)
Participants will learn foundational rhythm patterns and take part in a guided drum circle, exploring how individual beats come together to create collective sound and shared musical experience.