Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 00:32:01
+0200
From: "Ingmar Kreibohm"
Subject:
[TPIN] Didgeridoo
I love
this instrument! Playing the didgeridoo, besides being lots of fun, is also of
great "therapeutic" use for every brass player.
1) Psychologically:
initially you approach the instrument without fear or tension and can transfer
this approach to the instrument you're used to.
2) Physiologically: for
the lips the large amplitude creates a soothing massage (especially after a
strenuous playing day), the large quantities of air train breathing (and of
course circular breathing).
3) Physically: The most important effect is
for the tongue: the tongue is responsible for changing the tone color on the
didgeridoo by moving forward and backward. In that way you get used to having
your tongue furthur forward - just like with a hose you want to have your valve
(thumb) at the very end for the best control of the way the water (air) comes
out.
- translated from Malte Burba: "Brass Master Class" (2005)
So I would recommend practicing the didgeridoo for about 15 minutes
at the end of the day after you're done with your trumpet practicing. Just keep
experimenting and you will enjoy the sounds you will explore!
My
didgeridoo is one of the cheapest and most durable and practical and
transportable musical instruments I have: it's made of PVC pipes from the
hardware store and then a plastic mouthpiece which several companies here in
Germany are making (altogether it costs around 10 Euros/Dollars) and you can get
any length you want - so it's tunable! You can listen to a short example of a
piece I wrote for our ensemble on our website for 2 didgs, conch horn, hosaphone
and djembe (it was recorded live on one of our last children concerts where it
was premiered as an encore - the kids had a blast and so did we! :-) www.zephir-trompeten.de/repertoire2.html
at the bottom of the page.
Best wishes,
Ingmar
