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      Welcome to the Virtual Museum & Archive of the collection of Ubaka Hill's Drumsong Institute.  The Virtual Archive is organized according to likeness with short descriptions and images. The virtual collection is displayed by type. Every item in the collection represents what modern women and girls play and make related to drumming.

We will feature various unusual instruments and special collections of drummers. The virtual collection will change 2-3 times a year so that visitors will have many opportunities to research, view and study the displays. The Drumsong Newsletter will keep up with what's current and the featured instrument.  The actual museum collection is housed in Catskill , NY and maintained by Ubaka Hill who is the visionary, founder, and curator of the private collection. 

Like many drummers, Ubaka is a collector of drums and musical percussion instruments.  In 1989-1990 she began to intentionally focus her collecting habit to develop the first museum of its kind in the United States.   As an African American, with roots in the west african region, as a woman drummer and like any serious musician, she wanted to learn as much as possible about the drum and its cultural connections.

During her travel throughout the US, Ubaka frequented museums and bookstores new and used looking for books to satisfy her interest and intrigue.  She found various books on the general subject of music theory and special classical instruments, she found fewer books on ethnic drumming or african drums.  She once visited the Schomburg Museum in Harlem, NY where she found the most information about African, Haitian and Caribbean drumming and instruments.  She did not find any books that informed her of women's drumming traditions, beliefs and practices. At that time most were from a male-centric point of view, from the ethnomusicologist to the folkloric storytellers.

Ubaka has dedicated and committed a part of her life to the development and maintenance of the first museum and archive of women's drumming traditions of its kind in the United Stated of America.

The Drumsong Museum can be visited in NY by appointment only. The Museum membership will be established in the future. Your comments to help improve the website are welcome.  You are also welcome to suggest places, instruments and people to enhance the collection.

Enjoy your experience at the Drumsong Institute Virtual Museum.

 

Statement of Vision and Intention

To promote, foster, document, archive and preserve the emerging female-centric (women and girls) drumming and percussion traditions within the United States, as well as the global re-emergence of women's drumming culture. To provide information to strengthen and develop knowledge and skills which will sustain an evolving tradition of women's drumming throughout modern culture.  This includes women who make drums and percussion instruments, teachers, recording artists, authors, crafter's, visual artists and performers.

To increase public awareness of women's drumming traditions of ancient cultures and the importance of drumming within modern civilization.  To explore the art and spirit of drumming, rhythm and resonance as tools for personal satisfaction and community building across ethnic, cultural, gender, sexuality and class identity.

To develop and strengthen links to women drummers, workshops,  concerts,recorded music, conferences, retreats and drumming circles locally, nationally and internationally.

"Remember, We Come From A Long Line Of Women Drummers" U. Hill

Women's Traditions In The Making

Drumsong Institute Museum & Archive ~ PO Box  452   Catksill, NY  12414

  

Updated: Sunday 12 February, 2012

All mechanical and copy rights reserved © U. Hill 2006-2012