Wood'n Drums
"Promoting Unity though Drumming"
Rockaway, NJ 07866
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Musical beginnings….
A life-long musician whose musical talent was evident early on, Mark Wood started playing trap drums 25 years ago. He has
played everything from Southern Rock to Punk to Do-Wop. He later turned to Latin drums, playing and studying the
conga with Glen Webber at the New Jersey School of Percussion.
Discovering and studying the djembe…
In the ‘90s, Mark began studying djembe, the African drum he now plays. Mark began studying at
the Djonibe Centre in New York and with some of the best African drumming teachers in the area-- Michael Markus and
M'Bemba Bangoura, where he learned about the African traditions. He began to see and
experience the power of the djembe and its special way of bringing people together.
He continues to study with Amadou Diallo, an African teacher from Guinea, located in Upstate New York.
Facilitating community….
In addition to facilitating numerous drum circles and teaching workshops in local communities as
well as privately, Mark also provides health/wellness drumming experiences to associations such as the Hunterdon
County ARC and the Wellness Community of Central New Jersey’s cancer support group in Somerset, NJ. Mark, whose down-
to-earth style puts people at ease, facilitates a drumming experience that creates a sense of community and unity. “I try to
create an environment in which deep relaxation, joy and healing can take place.”
Promoting unity through drumming…
Mark’s personal mission is to “spread the word” about the djembe and educate more people about it, including medical and
educational institutions, where the benefits would be tremendous. “I’d like to see more people experience the benefits of
African drumming,” he says. “When that happens, more people will be able to connect, communicate and be part of this
community. It’s my way of promoting unity through drumming.
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