Drum Birthing Workshops

Group and 121 Workshops and Retreats across the UK and further afield.

Melonie runs many group drum birthing workshops across the year. As they become available they will be listed. Do get in touch if you want to take part in a group workshop but haven't seen one advertised in your area.

View Drum-Birthing Schedule

Group days: Come together with others who hear the call and birth your own drum. Spend a whole day in deep connection to hide and hoop - cutting, weaving, binding and finally birthing your very own drum and beater. Groups hold no more than 8 (unless specified) and create a drum with a 4 or 3 strand handle with a central crystal (if desired). For more personalisation see 121 sessions or retreats.

121 options: Melonie holds 121 drum birthing days, where the choice of handle design, hoop decoration and drum embellishment has more scope than a group session. She also holds 2 day re:birthing retreats for individuals - including a 90 min consultation to 'meet' your drum in meditation and to plan how to bring it into being, including any activations, healing or ceremony that supports you, your journey and that of the drum!
For more information or to book a 121 please get in touch web@thedrumwoman.com

Retreats:

Melonie holds a yearly 'Higher Heart of Glastonbury Drum Birthing Pilgrimage' and yearly 'Wiltshire Sacred Sites Drum Birthing and Land Connection Journey'.
The 2025 Glastonbury date is set and the Wiltshire Retreat date is TBC:

Higher Heart of Avalon Drum Birthing Pilgrimage - Glastonbury

Learn how to create a Shamanic Drum

Melonie also runs retreats at sacred sites inviting participants to connect to the land using the drum and their innate gifts.

Next retreat to be announced soon!

View Drum-Birthing Schedule

Community

DRUM CON - A convention for All
and
The Association of Women Drummers, Makers and Players

Drum Conventions

Melonie curates both Drum Con - A Convention for All and The Convention of Women Drummers, Makers and Players.

These conventions are spaces for those who drum, make drums, want to drum or are drum inspired! There is a programme of drum based talks, workshops and performances, an amazing selection of stalls including many drum based wares, two kitchens and a raffle at both events. They are brilliant places to meet likeminded souls and to spend the day immersed in all kinds of drum based fun!

Taking place at Marks Tey Parish Hall, Old London Road, nr Colchester - just off the A12 and 5 mins walk from Marks Tey Train station which has direct links to London. The venue has ample parking. Many attendees find accomodation in the area so that they do not have to rush back and people travel from far and wide to be there.

2024 dates for the Convention of Women Drummers, Makers and Players are 9th and 10th November.

Fully Booked

DRUM CON begins at 10am on 12th April 2025 and ends at 5:30pm.

The halls will be packed with speakers, workshops, stalls, drum circles and more. All drum styles are welcome!
This year we have an exciting set of workshops and a performance from the mighty Pentacle Drummers! Prepare to get your drum socks blown off at their amazing sound!
Tickets are available now and are £30 for the full day!

Drum Con Tickets £30 - 12th April 2025

The Third Annual Convention of Women Drummers, Makers and Players takes place on 8th and 9th November 2025 and tickets are £65.
Association Members recieve £10 off tickets.

Join us for a full weekend of amazing drum based workshops, talks and performances and Late night Saturday entertainment.
This year we are booking Alessandra Belloni to come over all the way from the USA to run workshops on her amazing Black Madonna and Tarantela frame drumming! Not to be missed!

Convention Tickets £65 - 8th/9th November 2025

What is the Association of Women Drummers, Makers and Players?

An exciting community of likeminded women, coming together online and in person throughout the year - with exclusive member benefits.

A 36 page magazine for all members with information from the world of drumming, interviews, events, musings, meditations and more sent to your door 4 times a year.

Online drum gatherings for connection, drumming, singing.

Inboxed meditations and interviews.

Money off the Convention entrance fees and money off of all thedrumwoman offerings and special 'members only' events, vouchers and gifts!

There is currently a special offer of 50% off of the yearly membership fee. Take advantage of it while it lasts!

Join now for £99 £49

Association Membership £49!

Markets and Festivals

Melonie often has stalls at different markets and festivals across the year. Here she sells her drums and rattles and often runs drum circles.

DRUM CON 2025 - Marks Tey Parish Hall (CO6 1EJ)

The 3rd Annual Convention of Women Drummers, Makers and Players - Marks Tey Parish Hall (CO6 1EJ)

Retreat

EARTH CODES:
The CALLANISH CONNECTION

An unmissable journey to the Isle of Lewis, on the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

Taking place 12th-17th July 2025 during the final throes of the moons 18.6 year 'out of bounds' cycle; this journey will be one for the record.

This is a journey for those interested in exploring and deepening their connection between the earth, sky and the drum. It is for those who feel drawn to work with the earth's energies and have an interest in drumming, standing stones, ancient structures and energy lines...as well as exploring amazing places!

This place, a ley line central focal point, has given Melonie 'Earth Codes' and said to her in February 2024 'We will let you in' as they showed her a vision of a group of people sat in the stones drumming. The journey has been a long time in the making.

We begin on the 12th July, the day the moon becomes full. We will travel to the stones at midnight to watch it rise over the Sleeping beauty rocks, dip down again and rise once more shining directly through the centre of the impressive Callanish stone circle.

Over our time together, we will craft our very own Callanish Drum, including items we collect on our travels - sharing our hoops with the stones, putting it out in the moonlight and more.

We will visit a range of the Callanish outlying circles and other standing stones across the Island and explore their links to the larger Callanish 1, drumming and crafting ceremony as we are called to.

We visit the isle of Bernera with its sentinel stones keeping watch and its paradise beach with ‘time bell’ and take a visit to some local makers using Harris Tweed in their crafts.

We visit the Isle of Harris to drum on the beach into the night as the sun sets and the moon rises and we visit the ‘Dragon’ at the very north of Lewis that looks out to the Faroe Isles. We will also pay a respectful visit to the largest single standing stone on the island, connecting in and listening to its stories.

We will take part in a group photoshoot at the stones with souvenir image included and whilst there additional shots can be organised should you so wish.

Ferry crossing, accomodation, breakfast and all drum making materials and all group excursion travel is included whilst on the island.

An additional ‘optional’ mainland trip to the Clava Cairns, near Inverness, on the evening of the 17th July is offered at no extra cost with drop off at Inverness available that evening.

You can drive there yourself (recommended to give you space to explore when we are not busy together) or pick up is available at Inverness airport or Ullapool Ferry dock on 11th July. (note: an extra night’s accomodation will be required and can be organised with an extra nights cost)

Accomodation - We have hired 2 apartments in central Stornoway, each accomodating 3-4 people PLUS a gorgeous secluded group ‘base’ overlooking a loch.

Additional archaeological information available here:
Calanais Survey and Excavation 1979-88
A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland
A Late Voyage to St Kilda
Description of the Western Islands of Scotland called Hybrides
Description of the Western Isles of Scotland - Wiki
Callanish Stones - Wiki

COST

Twin room - per person: £1500

Twin room - single occupancy: £3000

Double room - per person: £1500

Double room - single occupancy: £3000

EARLY BIRD - BOOK BY DEC 31st 2024

and receive a discount of £100!

Only 8 spaces available

Book CALLANISH CONNECTION - 12th/17th July 2025