drumming

Everyday

1. Drumming is playing a drum or drums. tree →
2. Drumming is a repeated beating or tapping sound, like rain on a roof or fingers on a table. tree →
3. (noun) Drumming is the music or skill of playing drums. tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons it is about rhythm and beat; drumming is used in many cultures, such as African, Japanese taiko and Irish bodhrán drumming. In stories it describes sounds: «the drumming of rain». In everyday life, drumming your fingers shows impatience. Phrases: «drumming your fingers», «drum up support», «drum something into someone».

Examples

• She is learning drumming at school. tree →
• The drumming of the rain kept me awake. tree →
• He was drumming his fingers on the desk. tree →
• Taiko drumming comes from Japan. tree →
• The woodpecker was drumming on the tree. tree →
• We heard drumming from the parade. tree →
• They are drumming up support for the school fair. tree →

Note

Double the m: drum → drummed, drumming, drummer. «Drum up» means to get people to help or buy. «Drum something into someone» means to teach it by repeating it many times. Woodpeckers drum on trees to make a noise, not only to find food.