Welcome to Toby Christensen’s free mini-course on 5-Element Drumming.
While Toby offers a full DVD course on this topic, along with a companion CD, he wants to make sure everyone has free access to the core principles of the five elements.
Even if you don’t yet own a drum, you can still benefit by listening to these videos. If you do have a drum available, we hope you grab it and fully participate by drumming along.
First, some background you’ll find to be useful.
The 5-Elements are from the West African Dagara tribe, who live in Southern Burkina Faso and Northern Ghana. They are a tribe who has been free from the influences of the Western world, and until recently, have experience very little modernity. Part of their powerful cosmology is their connection to the earth. They have a system of life and healing that is based on five particular elements. By “living the elements” in their balanced condition, we can live a life of connection to spirit, good health, prosperity, and well being.
The 5-Elements are comprised of:
- Earth
- Mineral
- Nature
- Water
- Fire
To learn more and order, visit > 5-Element Drumming DVD & CD Package Combination
We hope you enjoy the five videos below. Once you’ve enjoyed them—and hopefully, played along—please let Toby know what you think by entering your comments below.
5-Element Drumming – Introduction & First Rhythm: Earth
5-Element Drumming – Second Rhythm: Mineral
5-Element Drumming – Third Rhythm: Nature
5-Element Drumming – Fourth Rhythm: Water
5-Element Drumming – Fifth Rhythm: Fire
To learn more and order, visit > 5-Element Drumming DVD & CD Package Combination
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Hi Toby! Love your work and highly respect it. I’ve been following your studies for nearly 3 years now. It has touched me deeply. I too work with my Ancestors and spirit guides, I was trained and am still learning to do so from my Haitian Godmother.
I lead drum circles here in Indy and focus alot on rhythms of spirit so we in the physical can connect to the spirit and ask them for assistance by playing their rhythms. As you probably know, each spirit orixa or Lwa have a favorite rhythm that they respond to, so by playing it, it gets their attention and the work may be requested.
I am asking your permission to teach these rhythms at my workshops and circles. I feel people truly need to know how to connect to our Mother, Spirit and especially themselves. I am wanting to purchase a copy of this CD-DVD, how do I do so?
Thank you Toby! Ashe!
Thank you for your kind comments! I’m glad the five element timing has been helpful and I hope you will teach it everywhere you go. Please send your students to my website so that they can purchase a 5 element DVD for themselves and keep On drumming! A
I agree with Ashe and I’m also interested in your 5-element DVD and CD. I would like to share this in my drum circle as well!
Thank you for your interest! I will be doing a sound healers workshop on Kauai this year. Might be a great environment to work through the five element drumming.
Drumming on the beach while the Dolphins jump and swim to our rhythms in the sea. Stay tuned to find out more about this workshop!
WOW! I just saw and went thru all of the 5 Elements. What a rush!! I’ve been able to pick them up fairly easily at least on the basic level. Have had a wonderful jimba drum for several years and play occasionally. With this new knowledge and these fantastic element rhythms I am newly inspired.
Thank you from my ancestors who now have a voice which I can “hear”.
When will you be coming to the Atlanta area? I’m in Roswell, north of Atlanta, and would love to experience you in person.
Also, I am curious about maintainence of my dear drum. Do I need to do anything for the leather? or is playing it quite enough?
So glad to know you and your fabulous healing drumming.
Thank you, Lynda
Hi Lynda,
Thanks for the nice comment, I would love to come to the Atlanta area! As far as maintenance goes it’s always good to put a little Shea butter on the head from time to time and maybe a little teak, or linseed oil on the wood. Other than that there is very little you need to do. The more you play the drum the longer it lasts, and more life it holds. I look forward to seeing you in the Atlanta area at some point.
Peace,
Toby
Hi Toby,
Thank you very much for your sweet spirit and your 5-element drumming tips. My wife and I have been hosting a drum circle for nearly four years and your approach to drumming & healing are just what the doctor ordered… (to say the least) we think it’s the perfect next step for our drum circle. Dagara medicine is a true blessing and will surely bloom here in the western hemisphere in time. We so appreciate your work and your efforts to bring the medicine alive here via the world wide web.
We’re eagerly awaiting the arrival of your CD & DVD in the mail. Very much looking forward to purchasing your forthcoming Dagara songbook when it becomes available as well.
thanks again / blessings
doug
Thank you so much. I hope we can drum together some day soon!
Keep up the good work!
Toby
Thanks Toby. I hope we can drum together some day soon too. That would be absolutely fantastic! Where’s your home base? We’re located in the mountains just north of Warner Springs, California.
doug
I’m based out of Park City Utah and part of the year in Hawaii on the island of Kauai. I’m doing a Sound Healers week long workshop this August. You should consider coming. Start your career as a drum healer!!