Hi Anthony,
If not mistaken, I think you're referring to the use of all ritual instruments in the Protector kangsol yes? drums, cymbals, gyaling (traditional clarinets etc?)
Firstly, the ritual instruments are also a part of the meditation and visualisation so they are not separate from our meditations and prayers. So if you can learn the corresponding meditations on those, they are also very helpful for your practice. (at the most basic level, the instruments are a very powerful offering of sound. All offerings collect merit for our practice. At a higher level, offering sound / music is also symbolic offerings of emptiness).
Secondly, it is natural that as we begin our practice, we can't hold the object of our meditation for long or extended periods of time. This is normal because we have lived our lives for hundreds and thousands of years with a monkey mind that is very easily and quickly distracted. You don't have to worry too much about what happens after your prayer sessions and meditations at this point of time. Yes, it is normal that your mind will drift FOR NOW. What is helpful is to just be aware that your mind is drifting and to keep bringing it back as much as you can. Also, even if you are doing your meditations for only 5 - 10 minutes, make those minutes real quality time. Then, you gradually extend that meditation session to 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour and so on until you are able to hold your object of meditation for very long periods of time, and then eventually, you will be able to hold it spontaneously, without requiring concentration.
I hope this helps.
And welcome to the forum. Always great to have new people, questions and healthy debate. Keep asking!
