Newbie says hi and gets 1/1 on Business News

[gburgess]

Didger,Congrats. Be it your first or your second there are a lot of folks who wait a whole lot longer than that to get a forward. Cool start to your Taxi membership.GB

[didger]

Hey Georgie,You're in trouble asking me questions about didj. I'll try to avoid launching into a lecture here. There is no correct spelling as it's just a silly made up word describing the sound, but academics tend to use 'didjeridu' while mainstream CDs and websites tend to use 'didgeridoo.' I use both on the web so people find my pages with either search!I'll save some space here and refer you to my didj music website which has an out of date and way too long bio including how I got into the instrument...http://www.gingerroot.com/artists/randy.htmMy affinity with Australia developed from the instrument. I started playing it just because I liked unusual music and the challenge of doing something virtuosic that comes all from your own self, with just a hollow tube - I always say, all the moving parts are in you, so YOU'RE the instrument, not the didj. It's fulfilling that way. In '99 I did my first pilgrimage to the origin in North Oz, got adopted into an Aboriginal clan, started learning the language, and it instantly felt like family and I kept getting sucked back. Plus the north coast is one of the most beautiful places on the planet - that helps. I lived there from 2004 to 2009 when I had to return to the USA due to a family medical issue.If you want to learn, there's heaps of info on the web (I've got teaching CDs on rhythmic playing, but they don't start from the beginning of how to breathe and make the basic sounds), and I know there's heaps of players, a few clubs and a couple festivals in the UK. Here's a guy I know in London who might be able to refer you to what's going on in your area - http://aboriginalarts.co.uk/ . He's actually hosting a workshop with an amazing elder/master player I was close with, I think next month. You may not be able to understand much technique, but it'd be an amazing opportunity to meet a real full blood (not to be racist or anything!) master player who actually grew up in the bush not speaking English and still lives a ceremonial life.Last thing... how do you get rhythms going? Anything you can do between your diaphragm and your lips can go into it. Diaphragm control is huge (lots of ha ha stuff), tonguing (ta ka ta ka etc.), cheeks going in and out, voice added on top, etc. A lot of people think it's just a drone instrument, and it can of course do that, but all the way back to the traditional playing, it's really all about rhythm.Okay, lecture ends here!

[georginasaint]

Hi Randy, thanks for all that info you posted - I've just spent a huge chunk of time going through your Australian trip and looking at the making of the didgeridoos - incredible trip - so interesting!I'll check out your other links at some point. I no longer have my didg and no longer have time to pursue a new instrument (should be practising the piano 10 times more than I do as it is). But anyway, thanks for the info - really enjoyed what I've read and will go back for more at some point.I'm sure you'll do well here at Taxi, getting your music into the world. Georgie

[byllsong]

Congrats