Here, from our little wooden cave, a lot of didgeridoo is taught.

Trees, techniques, shapes, breathing styles, postures, isolations, connections, visualizations and body awareness are all staple conversations in discussing how to approach the didgeridoo experience – and there is always plenty to explore!

The team here were blessed to have Ondrej Smeykal back with us again to perform and to host a weekend-long didge exploration workshop. Ondrej’s passion for sharing and his grounding presence is always incredibly helpful in peeling back the many layers of the craft.

We sat on the floorboards and experimented with our posture – how does the way we sit and hold ourselves affect our ability to maintain balance of air/power/energy? It is worth testing all options yourself to discover.
He then guided us through isolating the various playing variables, likening each body part’s influence to an instrument in its own right within the larger model of an orchestra of sound ultimately produced by such a rich instrument.

The powerful diaphragm acting as the driving force, the beat, the pulse. The first wave of energy rising up from our seated connection to the earth beneath, strong & balanced.

The energized addition of our chest, lungs & throat adds warmth, heart and interactive voice to the soundscape. Experiment with this.

The next isolation we explored up the path is the space formed within the mouth. The tongue, the jaw and the cheeks work in combination to radically affect the sound of the instrument. Fantastic insights shared by Ondrej’s personal didgeridoo journey included using jaw movements for both sound and breath opportunities, and the benefits of alternating vowels formed at the front and back of the tongue. Many rhythms and “instruments” were created in these isolations.

The final isolation was the lips of course, and techniques explored beyond the good old-fashioned droning was his personal tongueless approach to trumpeting/tooting and the subtle art of achieving the quietest drone possible – an impressive and refreshing dynamic.

Ondrej’s style of teaching is to discuss the point of interest in great detail from personal experience and then form an exercise to practice for 10-15mintues. This technique had the benefit of ensuring clear understanding and space to explore and recognize it within your own body. This was approached methodically, though it was always underlined that the need to FEEL the body was paramount to connection. All very inspiring and exciting!

Keep your ears to the wall to catch Ondrej as he travels the world or when he returns again to Didgeridoo Breath for amazing inspiration and a general good time. His professionalism and devotion to the true fundamentals of music are easily noticed and simply listening to him play for 50 minutes straight is proof enough of his mastery and exploration of an instrument that seems to know no bounds.

Keep on didg’n guys.

The Didgeridoo Breath Mob

G’day & Good Vibes to the worldwide didge tribe!

Have you ever had the urge to design something that will be worn by thousands of shoeless drone fans?
Have you ever lost track of time in a sketchpad while your partner pours deep vibrations into the floorboards?
Have you ever considered that didge players just need a fresh look in this big ol’ world?
Well now is your chance to make a difference, because Didgeridoo Breath is holding a DESIGN-A-TSHIRT-COMPETITION and you are invited!!

We are calling out all artists to send us some of their finest ink – that we may print a tshirt to satisfy even the driest critic. The winners will be chosen by us down the pub one day and, will be toasted to, and each WIN A $500 DIDGERIDOO BREATH gift voucher!! Of course you will also get a free tee ☺
We will be awarding winning prizes to the designs that resonate the best, and there may even be a few winners. We would really like a few single-colour designs in the mix too!

Here’s how to do it:

: please choose up to 4 colours only (for full colour entries)

: must be original by the artist (your good self), but can be based on our logo if you wish (could be great!)

: should be well-suited to that good ol’ Didgeridoo Breath vibe

: your design is for the front of a classic tshirt, with a workable area of anywhere up to 30cm x 30cm

: please send initial entry to us in an average file size, and we will ask for it as big as we can get it if you are a lucky winner

: submission closing date for competition is 10th March 2015

: you may submit as many entries as you wish

: can be digitally designed or hand drawn so long as the lines are super clean and suitable for print

: send your design to [email protected] in .jpg or .pdf format complete with your name, and if you wish a bit about yourself & your design

Follow us on FB event HERE
https://www.facebook.com/events/1552786258323108/

Disclaimer

By submitting an entry in the competition you grant permission for Didgeridoo Breath to display your artwork on our website, social media networks, and to be used on our new Tshirts commercially. You will be credited as designer on the product page for this tshirt (including a link to your portfolio/website if applicable)

BEST OF LUCK

It wouldn’t be Christmas without Christmas Carols on the didgeridoo. Sanshi is on fire with his performance of Jingle Bells on the didge:

G’day to the Worldwide Didge Tribe!!

It has been a crazy summer for us so far and everything is flying out the door faster than we can bounce-breathe 🙂

This is a quick hello to fill you all in on the cut off dates on various shipping methods if you are wanting your order to arrive to you before Christmas time.

So here we go friends:

For INTERNATIONAL REGULAR POST orders (items such as books, boomerangs, shakers, small things) – Dec 4th (ASAP, Go Go Go!)

For DHL International Courier order (all didgeridoos sent overseas) – Dec 17th

For TNT Australia-wide Courier orders (all didgeridoos sent around Oz) – Dec 15th

For all “remote areas of Australia” sent via TNT Courier (for all you bush fellas) – Dec 12th

On behalf of the Didgeridoo Breath Mob we wish you all a happy festive season and hope that you continue to have a blast.

Warm Vibrations to you, and let us know if we can be of any assistance.

Ahh yes, circular breath….
For many aspiring didgeridoo players this seems like THE main goal in their practice. Everyday here at Didgeridoo Breath we hear comments that we are hungry to dispel such as:

“I don’t have enough puff to play that”
“Nah, I’m a smoker – cant do it”
“Yea but… how do you keep it going??”
“How do you breathe in and out and the same time?”
“That’s impossible!”
etc blah blah blah……

The task is both mental and physical, and just so long as you are able to breathe in through your nose (even one nostril will do) you have total potential to accomplish this feat! Explaining the technique here in store everyday is one thing, but today I feel like laying it all down for those players out there who are curious or struggling along the path in their own private practice. Lets talk about the art of circular breathing.

HOW TO

So, as I have noted already – the task is just as much a mental challenge as it is a psychical one. The first hurdle to jump mentally is the one that says “I CAN’T DO THAT”. This may be true, but you have forgotten to add one word there…. YET. Maybe you cannot do it just yet, but if you give up before you start then what is the point to anything! Being a practice that can be started by yourself, at any time or place, with no equipment, whilst already doing other things , AND for free should make it as accessible as air itself. Why not dedicate 5 minutes each day to such a beneficial practice and kick some serious goals?
The second hurdle to jump mentally is to look at breath in a fresh and open way again. You will need to get your head around the fact that you will be multitasking here. While you breathe in through your nose (easy!) you will be learning how to squeeze air out of your mouth using your cheeks. Your brain may feel a pinch here at this point, much like it does when someone asks if you can pat your head & rub your tummy at the same time. Muscle memory is the key to not overthinking this move – by which I mean, just slowly & steadily repeating the action over and over will allow your body to make sense of it and give your brain a rest. I will explain in more detail about this technique soon.

The physical hurdles are basically just improving your muscle strength, and familiarity of their new uses. Areas of use here are your cheek muscles, tongue & throat muscles (those around your upper airway), and your diaphragm. As you consciously engage with these parts of your body their strength with improve rapidly, as will your ability to control them at will. If you start to aim your breath down towards your navel instead of just the top of your chest – you will be using your diaphragm, and by using the simple training exercise explained in the next paragraph – you will be developing your cheek strength. That is the main purpose! So, lets go further ☺

So, without worrying about your didgeridoo yet, or how anything sounds (another initial distraction by so many didgeridoo players), here is an exercise for you to train yourself ready for circular breathing. The goal of this exercise is to:

: make your cheeks strong
: develop new muscle memory, and ‘get your head around’ the action of it.

Step 1:
Puff up your mouth full of air (or water if you prefer).
*note, you do not need any air in your lungs for this action. In fact, why not test it and show yourself how easy it is to simply hold air in your mouth separately from the lungs. Just puff them up and hold them there nice & tight. Good!

Step 2:
Whilst still holding your mouthful of air, try breathing normally via your nose without changing your cheeks at this stage. You will notice & feel that there are already two separate actions going on. Your lungs are breathing as normal, and your mouth has become a separate isolated area. Please note that for this to work the soft muscles at back of your mouth/tongue have closed off the space within your mouth to create the seal. Your body should do this automatically anyway every time you breathe in with only your nose. When you are starting out it is helpful to feel this engagement of ‘two separate areas’ for a few breaths, as it makes you more aware of the spaces you are going to develop. So feel this for a bit and then relax again for step 3.

Step 3.
Good work so far. Not too hard eh?
Now you are going to feel what it is like to make a vibration with your lips, but without using your lungs! Ever spat out a watermelon seed or made a little fart noise with your lips/tongue? Hard to describe in writing here, but if you can make a little squeak sound with your lips that sounds like someone sliding a wet finger across a balloon, or squeaky rubber then you’ve probably got it. It is a short wet sound and it comes from your muscles without the need to blow air. This is a nice and important point to make, because for a didgeridoo player the art of circular breathing is the art of keeping your lips vibrating at all times – including while breathing.
To achieve this we must at some point keep our lips moving without any influence from the lungs. So test yourself now in this step – can you make a little buzz sound with your lips WITHOUT using your lungs? Good! Let’s extend it then.

Step 4.
Now lets take that short little squirt and extend it by bringing our cheeks into the equation more. Can you extend the vibration to 2 seconds long? Should sound like the balloon got away from you while you were blowing it up ☺
Can you extend it more? Keep trying!
Now, lets go for a squeeze that is as long and hard as you can possibly manage. Fill those cheeks back up to the brim again like you did in step 1 and see if you can squeeze out for 5 HARD SECONDS. Give it all you’ve got – and this exercise will become your muscle workout for your cheeks.
At this point be very sure that you are NOT using any air from your lungs, but only that which is trapped inside your mouth. This is a stage that many students get stuck on due to just normal conditioning of the brain and muscles. Your brain may say to you “okay big squeeze time… lets give it everything!” and you may find yourself puffing up your lungs and adding them into the mix as well. Please be mindful of this. We do not want to blow air out of the lungs because as you will see in the next step, we will need to be breathing INTO the lungs during the squeeze. If you are getting stuck on this one here is a tip: try doing this step with empty lungs, that way you know that you cannot possibly be blowing out also. Breathe your air out until its gone, expand your cheeks, and use your cheeks muscles to squeeze out the longest hardest horrible sound you can manage, hahaha. Yes, a few of these and you should be nice and sore. This is the muscular workout element of the training. Now, for the mind…

Step 5.
Got your squeeze down? Feel like you have been laughing all day and now have sore cheeks? Good! Feel proud ☺ Almost there.
The last part of this technique is to add a breath during the squeeze.
If your squeeze is lasting for 5 seconds, the ideal time to take that breath is during second #3. Yes, just a quick little sniff in through the nose – aimed down at your navel. If you can use your diaphragm to take that sniff you will be engaging your core and taking good fresh air down deep where the body needs it. Diaphragmic breathing feels so very good! We only want to take a short breath, and the breath MUST be shorter than the squeeze to train your muscle memory correctly. If you were to breathe in for as long as your squeeze out – you will be left with plenty of air in your lungs, but nothing left in your cheeks to eventually continue the drone during didgeridoo play. Practically speaking, you are playing the drone, your air is running low, your cheeks widen and take over the lip movement and you take a quick sniff of air in this opportune moment, then what ever is left still within your cheeks is relaxed and blended into the normal drone again. We are training this muscle memory action for you now by getting the rhythm right: a short sniff in a longer squeeze. It can be challenging to work these two actions (sniffing and squeezing) out of sync initially but I’m sure you will get it.
Something to help with this tricky part is to accompany yourself with your hands to help it click in your brain. How about moving one hand outwards in a steady line as you squeeze, and have the other hand move back at you for the shorter sniff. Assigning your hands to represent the two separate actions may be of help in the beginning seeing as we probably don’t have much cheek strength yet.
Please note that on the didgeridoo you would not actually squeeze out for 5 seconds, it happens a lot faster when you are playing, but right now it is strengthening for you to do it longer and harder and to feel the best time for your breath to be in the middle. In real time the whole action takes place in a second or less!!

If you can commit to doing this exercise every day for a week or two you will definitely gain results in cheek strength & new muscle memory. This is the time to start trying it on your didgeridoo!! See if you can drone for a while and then add your squeeze & sniff in when you are ready and relaxed. Forget how it sounds!! Your drone may sound great and your squeeze may sound horrible – BUT I guarantee that if you can keep a continual vibration going no matter what it sounds like, you are 95% there. Be patient at this point as well, and know that the best sound will come in time. Keep the vibration going mate, and breathe a relaxed breath into your diaphragm.

Keep on working it and gain control over your cheeks. To make it continual there will be an overlap on each end of your squeeze. For example, you are droning away on your didge and whilst still droning your cheeks will expand ready to take over the job of vibrating your lips – GO! Now the cheeks are squeezing and you have taken your sniff of air. Now you blend what is left in your cheeks by slowly relaxing them and bringing your normal drone back at the same time. Don’t worry it if sounds a bit bumpy at first, or if a little gap comes here and there – totally normal.
As your cheeks become stronger they will have the sensitivity and control to slow down your big squeeze, and more and more it will sound just like a continuation of the drone you are after, and less and less like a bad toilet joke.

BOOM. That is my explanation of circular breathing training ☺

I know there are a LOT OF WORDS here, but this article has been written in the spirit of laying down a lot of answers to circular breathing questions we get here every day. Many little riddles are tucked away here in the paragraphs – so delve deep and I hope things will make sense to you all.
Here is a quick summary of the technique:

TECHINQUE SUMMARY

: big 5 second squeeze from the cheeks (for strength training)
: little sniff of air via the nose aimed at navel, taken in the middle of that squeeze (for the timing of muscle memory)
: stop and repeat for 5 mintues (the shower is a great time for practice as you can use water in your mouth instead of air)
: marinate on that every day for a week or two (to let your body know that this is a new and important action. Use it or lose it!)
: when cheeks are strong, take it to the didgeridoo and try and keep a vibration always going without worrying how good it sounds
: steadily overlap both ends of your squeeze exercise into your drone
: relax your cheeks more and more during the squeeze to maintain the correct drone vibration and do away with the tight squeeze (ability comes with strength & practice)
: disco.

Congratulations in advance my friend! Remember, you don’t need anything but time to accomplish this amazing breathing technique. Once you feel strong in the cheek department, this is the time to grab yourself a fine & beautifully handcrafted didgeridoo from us. Something with good backpressure and capable of producing the amazing sounds that will surely follow, now that you have taken a serious step along your didgeridoo path.

Know as well that being able to play an amazing instrument without stopping is only ONE cool benefit of learning this technique! Circular breathing can be tied in to health benefits also ☺
The continual use of the didgeridoo will promote your body to remember how to breathe properly – that is, breathe into your diaphragm (like we all do when we are infants & young children). Rather than shallow, unconscious, day-to-day breaths you will find it easier and easier to breathe normally into your navel and supply yourself with good fresh air right down to the bottom of your lungs, your diaphragm moving rhythmically and massaging your organs as it does. You may even feel hyper oxygenated at first. I remember my fingertips tingling and seeing dots in front of my eyes! You will feel your core muscles opening up and your posture may also improve.
Another health benefit of playing didgeridoo is that you are working all the muscles around your upper airway, gaining strength and control over them and enhancing the pathways that connect your brain with these actions. This will produce noted results for those suffering from various breathing conditions such as asthma, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnoea. What a fun way to seek health! The list does go on and on actually, but that could be a whole new blog me thinks.

We here at Didgeridoo Breath have had countless moments where students have returned to the store with smiles or tears of joy in having battled physical or emotional hurdles with the power of a hollow tree and getting in touch with their own bodies.

The didgeridoo is an absolutely incredible instrument & tool, not only for how it sounds or looks or even feels, but also because playing it is a great way to put yourself back in touch yourself in a healthy and free-form way. Anyone can do it. So have a good go, tell a friend and maybe even start up your own regular didge circle.
We are always here to help with any questions you have along the way, and are just about as passionate as you can get about the world’s oldest and powerful instrument – the didgeridoo. We stock some of the best and most authentic instruments in the world right here and are always ready to sit down with you and have a good yarn & expand some technique. Locals, keep making yourselves at home here, for those abroad – we will hopefully see you all soon on your didgeridoo pilgrimage.

Warm Vibrations
Benni, of the Didgeridoo Breath Mob

Wintertime in Fremantle and it is time to hit that good ol’ road north to add a few degrees to the mercury.

Benni & Ellswood were honoured to be invited this year to teach didgeridoo up in Yamatji country in mid-west WA as a precursor to NAIDOC Week. For those outside of Australia wishing to learn more, NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines & Islanders Day Observance Committee and the week is a celebration of First Australian history & culture across the continent and it’s surrounding islands. With the world’s oldest continuing culture being found here – there is plenty to celebrate and honour!

Discover more about NAIDOC here: http://www.naidoc.org.au

Rangeway Primary School in Geraldton boasts an Aboriginal student population of around 85% and the school’s music coordinator George Scicluna is a man of large plans and strong community development. One of his current quests is to empower his students by bringing the didgeridoo into the school curriculum as part of the music program known as ‘Indidgenius’. George called upon the experience of Didgeridoo Breath’s teachers to add a new level of involvement to the schools already exciting music department. With the support of the Bundiyarra Aborginal Corporation & sponsorship from Rio Tinto and Ian Blayney (Lib. Member for Gerladton) we were also able to provide several beautifully natural didgeridoos to the school that will hopefully bring joy to generations of upcoming students.

As fun as it to work here at Didgeridoo Breath central, Benni & Elz were pumped about a journey, and the ute was packed superfast with around 40 different didgeridoos in anticipation of the circles to be held. Also needed were a few sets of clapsticks, some termite tunnel grit, and some sweet droning road music (and thankfully a spare tire – as we accidentally ran over an echidna on the drive back home and got some karmically spiked).

George was incredibly hospitable, putting us up at his own home (which was decked out and stood overlooking Gerladton’s mighty sand dunes!) which was fantastic because we had plenty of teaching to do. Every male (respecting local Aboriginal law) student from year 4 upwards was invited, in back to back groups to become familiar with the didgeridoo and sit with us in a sheltered circle while we spun a few yarns, practiced some new techniques, learnt how to circular breathe and have a few laughs to boot. A standout group of the older students who had been learning didgeridoo for some time prior had already mastered the breathing and many rhythms. These ‘Didgeridoo Boys’ sat proudly around the circle, assisted Benni & Elz with the students and were clearly looked upon highly by the younger mob. It was a true inspiration to see and to be able to take things further with them.

The Indidgenius program is designed to create a sort of “didge choir” where all members of the group can play in matching keys and perform for the school & around the community with confidence. They had composed their own rhythms already and are doing great! We wish all the mob there at Rangeway Primary School the very best with their music program and hope to come see how you are doing again soon.

A special place and moment for us was time spent at Bundiyarra, which literally means “a good place” in Wajarri (a local language).  http://bundiyarra.com.au/index.php?page=home

We were invited to Bundiyarra and took a good walk over the land there, crossing paths where ancient songlines converged to reveal timeless natural spring-waterholes. We held a didge circle for a local footy team, and the log wood burned all day long. Local elders came to take part in the meet up and there was plenty of good tucker put on by the beautiful women.  We were impressed by the health and the endeavours of the Bundiyarra mob and their diligent work towards maintaining language, plant medicine, bush tucker, and culture – and for holding a space where local Aboriginal people can feel safe and enhance their community.

Overall we felt blessed to be invited and had a real blast! If you are ever up in the Midwest coastal region of Western Australia, we recommend you spend an afternoon at Bundiyarra and dig your toes into the sand there…. You may even hear the sounds of the didgeridoo echoing over the sand and stones as the mob there continue to grow stronger and stronger once more.

Stay in touch with our next blog when we describe how to make didgeridoos out of agave flower spikes, which are growing like naturalized wildfire all over Geraldton, and would be a perfect sustainable community project for local didge makers.

See you next time Gerro 😉

Warm Vibrations

Benni, of the Didgeridoo Breath Mob

Got a spare hand or two left, mate?

Whether in a group or as a solo player the didgeridoo can be accompanied well by many other instruments.
In its traditional context the yidaki would always be played along with the bilma (tapping sticks) – in fact, the two were inseparable! A ceremony may include many bilma players, many singers, and a yidaki player to create a haunting and powerful sound to match the dancing.
In a contemporary context we can find many people experimenting with new accompanying sounds that add whole new dimensions to the journey experience. Percussive, melodic, or even added layers of drone can be used to full effect.

Sometimes the simple things are the best, and less distractive for a didgeridoo player who has created a one-man band.
Here are some common percussion instruments to experiment with as a solo player:

: Egg Shakers http://www.didgeridoobreath.com/Egg-Shakers-Percussion-Instruments-p/egg-shaker.htm

These tiny, strong, and potentially LOUD little puppies are an easy must for almost every didgeridoo playing scenario. Shake a matching rhythm in your hand, palm mute it, tap it across your didgeridoo whilst playing, and finish it all off with a good rattle. They fit easily into any bag with your didgeridoo or just your pocket if you haven’t got a bag yet! Our egg shakers are practically indestructible and sound great. Available in a variety of colours & also in wood. Using one on stage will require no amplification as they just project so well.

: Stompbox http://www.didgeridoobreath.com/Stomp-Boxes-s/133.htm

Australia. The land of the doof. Sure, you can busk in the streets with your didgeridoo and tickle the fancies of the sonically curious as they wander by – or you can kick it royally with your our mini powerhouse heartbeat, THE STOMPBOX! A mainstay for any Aussie venue performance whether you are a didge player or not. Guitarists love ‘em, we love ‘em, and we are proud to stock the very best there is. Plug it into an amp or PA system and bring your foot down to create a powerful stomp tone that replaces the need for a kick drum or bass beat. They couldn’t be easier or more comfortable to use. Crucial for maintaining energy of larger crowds.

: Tapping Sticks http://www.didgeridoobreath.com/Aboriginal-Tapping-Sticks-s/106.htm

Known by many different tribal names across this continent, the Tapping Sticks are as Aussie as kangaroo pie, and no didge meal is complete without them. They come in a pair, and of various shapes and finishes. You can keep one in your lap and tap the other against it – or tap it along your didgeridoo if you wish. Not only do they create the atmosphere of an authentic bush sound, but they also provide an opportunity for new polyrhythms in combination with your didge play. In ceremony they were THE most important instrument of all, with all people following the lead of the bilma player(s). Boomerangs could also be used in their stead. We have many styles available, with new woods and artists coming in all the time. Feel free to contact us with your requests.

Beyond the scope of solo didgeridoo accompaniment there are heaps of possible instrument combinations to experiment with. Remember that when including a melodic instrument into the mix that the didgeridoo is of course a drone instrument and has basically one note that needs matching or harmonizing with. Here is a list of some possible candidates to become inspired by that Didgeridoo Breath currently provides for:

: HAPI Drums http://www.didgeridoobreath.com/buy-happy-hapi-drums-ufo-online-s/258.htm
These amazingly beautiful instruments are available in various pentatonic scales and are simple to play. They each have plugs for contact microphones for larger performances and are real life dream machines.

: Native American-style Flutes http://www.didgeridoobreath.com/native-american-style-flutes-s/274.htm

Flute & didgeridoo is a winning combination that we rate very highly. A good recipe for astral travel may be brewed by taking one pound of high-quality didgeridoo drone and simply adding a light pinch of soaring flute as a melody on top. The didgeridoo can create the timeless sound of the land & space whilst the flute notes can provide the subject. The drone flute model is particularly magickal. See what happens when two ancient cultures meet with music!

: Jaw Harps http://www.didgeridoobreath.com/Jew-Harp-Buy-Online-Worldwide-Shipping-p/jewharp-839.htm

Another ancient droning instrument which is controlled tonally in a similar way to didgeridoo. So many styles exist in the world and we love them all.

: Harmonicas http://www.didgeridoobreath.com/buy-harmonica-s/237.htm

If you are hoping to create the sound of ‘waiting for a train in the outback’ – why not try the combination of didgeridoo and blues harmonica. A bushman’s delight!

On a final note we would just like to add three words:

PERCUSSION PERCUSSION PERCUSSION!!

Unlimited world percussion will always have a happy home alongside your didgeridoo performance. From djembe to dunduns, from gongs to maraccas, from udus to log drums – the sky is the limit!
Didgeridoo players of Earth we encourage you to expand your sounds and experiment with your skills. Let us know if we can be of any assistance along the way or if you feel you have made a special sonic discovery of your own, why not share it with the community so that we may nod & dance.

From Didgeridoo Breath with love, we wish you all well.
Thanks for all the support over the years.

G’day you mob! Hopin’ you’re all having a whale of a time out there ☺

Today we want to talk to you about physical issues we might face with our didgeridoos along the way. Environmental changes, cracks, hairline fractures, melting wax, electrical tape – and what can we do about it!

First lets start out with some basics about wood in general:

It breathes. It contracts & expands. It resonates.

It is this organic nature of wood that we all know and love, and though its warmth is what makes it desirable as a material for instrument craft, wood can also be at risk to a few elements that can create damage…. Hopefully nothing we can’t take care of however!

Let’s examine a few scenarios and what we can do if they occur:

HAIRLINE FRACTURES

Why do they occur?

Given that a didgeridoo is a tree hollowed out in the bush by termites while it is alive, the drying process for the harvested timber is unique. Unlike a solid log, the tree has to dry with an already exposed core. Most didgeridoo makers go to considerable length to ensure the drying period is slowed down by ‘capping the ends’ of the log (often with PVA glue and sawdust, or the termite tunnel grit that falls away after felling and cleaning the tree) and other techniques such as periodically wetting the logs to further lengthen drying time, log burial, river burial, and storage out of the elements. Rapid drying of a termite-hollowed log would certainly result in a split as the inner and outer layer of the wood dries at different speeds. Drying period for modern didgeridoos of repute should be a minimum of 6 months time before any woodwork is done. The longer the better!
Still, after drying, working, finishing and sealing the didgeridoo there are still factors that put it to the test. The didgeridoo may be exported to a country with very different conditions to its origin, AND the fact that it will be played powerfully with mucho gusto by its new owner is worth consideration. The powerful vibrations and pressure within the didgeridoo are strong things indeed.

We have seen and heard stories of hairline fractures occurring on small tough $99 didgeridoos, as well as high performance $2000 mega boontahs! A surprising number of serious touring artists proudly display their favourite didge, used for intensely for15 years, and held together with bands of electrical tape (from all corners of the globe!)
The moral is – yes, cracks can sometimes occur. Sometimes completely out of the blue. But what can you do about it if it happens to you?

CAN IT BE FIXED?

Yes! Maybe!

A hairline fracture of around 1-2mm width would be the most common occurrence if anything. This is very easily fixed with a piece of fine-grit sandpaper and a tube of Superglue.

Technique:

Apply the superglue across the length of the fracture. Then straight away begin to sand across the split with the sandpaper. The wood dust will merge with the drying glue and in less than one minute’s time you will have a filled gap that is super dooper strong, and ready to roll! I have applied this technique to didges of my own and am satisfied. Note, of course, that if the split has occurred over artwork then this will need to be touched up with appropriate paints, perhaps in an ochre colour base to match the natural tones of Australian colour.

Another common technique that is very useful for slightly larger splits is to make a paste out of sawdust & PVA wood glue. A thick paste, then applied across the crack and left to dry before sanding it back to a solid and smooth state. Paint or finish as normal.

WILL IT EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN?

Most definitely. There are some who feel that once a didge has cracked it has ‘released the pressure’ so to speak, and should remain strong, if not STRONGER than it was before. Drilling and plugging with a small wooden dowel is also a technique we have seen some didgeridoo makers use to prevent a crack from lengthening. This would be done at the end(s) of the fracture.

TOP VS THE BOTTOM OF THE DIDGERIDOO

A crack occurring within say, the top third of your didgeridoo equates to a dramatic loss in backpressure and therefore playability – and needs to be dealt with immediately. If a crack occurs toward the bell-end of your instrument (most likely cased from impact, or perhaps playing on the hot sand of a beach) the pressure will not be affected so much, but it is still best to address the crack, lest it increase in size over time with the vibration of playing.

WILL BEESWAX DO THE JOB?

If you are serious about your didgeridoo journey – forget about it. Beeswax is a soft substance, and with climatic conditions can melt away, or vibrate its way out of the crack. It can shrink and dry and should only be used as a temporary measure if any. An outdated technique.

ANY OTHER FILLERS?

Strong and flexible is the key for didge repair, hence the sawdust/wood glue combination being king amongst repair methods. Still, two other suggestions we have to offer are:

: layers of Epoxy Resin (useful for those MAKING their own didgeridoo and are heading towards the sealing stage of their production) can be liberally applied to the crack and the instrument at large to seal it from the elements externally and internally!

: Balga resin. The grasstree (Xanthorrhoea sp.) has an amazing resin that exudes from the plant after a bushfire. This resin has been used since time immemorial in Australia as a fixative for sharp stone heads to wooden handles and many other purposes. It is an amazing substance with a brilliant and earthy scent, and the colour of deep magenta glass. This would also do nicely as a gap filler for didgeridoos, and you may wish to include grit from sand, wood, or ground termite tunnels.

GREAT! ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT HOW CAN I AVOID CRACKS?

Although sometimes despite every effort they may occur, the best thing you can do for your didgeridoo is to keep it in an insulated padded weatherproof bag when travelling or not playing it. This certainly cuts down any elemental risk. Our bag maker ‘SNAKESKINS UPHOLSTERY’ are kings amongst quality, and are happy to custom design a bag to fit any didgeridoo in the world. Drop us a line with your dimensions should you feel the need – and we will see it done. Alternatively, we stock several standard sized bags available for purchase here:

http://www.didgeridoobreath.com/Buy-Didgeridoo-Bags-Online-s/5.htm

For traditional yidaki, didges on the more raw side, or didgeridoos that are unsealed on the inside – it can be beneficial to ‘ease into it’ in the early days of play. Allow the instrument to be slowly accustomed to intense vibration and the presence of saliva by limiting play to 15 minutes or so per session for the first couple of weeks after receiving your new instrument. It is not necessary, but hey… it can’t hurt right? Raw cored didgeridoos may also enjoy a coating of oil on the inside once a year to keep things groovy. Orange oil, boiled linseed oil, Tung oil, and Danish oil are favourites. Cap the ends of your didge with plastic wrap and elastic bands and tip the oil around inside until coated before draining it out and leaving to dry.

Avoid extreme climate changes such as taking your didgeridoo into the woods at night and having a great ol’ play, then wandering home and leaving it near the warm fireplace, or playing down the beach with friends in the sun all day only to use it as a paddle for your kayak whilst you oar your way home, bushman style.

So, we hope you find this information useful. The team here at Didgeridoo Breath are always here to help with any specific questions you may have along your didgeridoo journey – big or small. Let’s keep the banter going, and keep our community strong as we bring the world’s most ancient instrument into the spotlight.

Keep your vibrations strong, and keep the fires burning you beautiful people.

Lotsa love from the coast of WA.

Benni Böötz, of the Didgeridoo Breath Mob

Midnight. A great wind rises up from the Southern Ocean. A single raven crows from the distant fenceline as Sanshi, Koji, & Böötsie are lifted off the tarmac with their tools towards a little town folks call ‘Mel-bunn’.

Firstly, let us give thanks to the genuine cowgirl who offered to take Böötsie’s “overweight” didge onto her baggage allowance so that we could all make it across. Cheers darl! After touchdown at Melbourne Airport she decided to shed denim to show Koji-san her latest tattoo.

And with that the festivities had begun, and the infamous rock n roll didgeridoo lifestyle was feeding the many-headed beast of the night in a fresh new town. The boys hired a car and hooked up the polite Japanese street-map voice to direct us over to the Mornington Peningsula where one could caffeinate oneself with correctly-served long macchiatos and jam heartily on wind instruments till the Mornington cows come home.

We stayed with Anne Norman of BREATH (http://www.didgeridoobreath.com/Breath-Ocean-Breath-CD-p/cd-26.htm) and got a few hours practice in to balance the sounds of a largely improvised set, under the influence of pu-erh and driftwood. We sought further inspiration from the waves and the setting sun over Gunnamatta beach (epic!) and after an Afghani banquet – we were energized & ready to perform.

The location of the Melbourne Didgeridoo & Cultural Festival was ideal. A quaint town, an easy street, a big flowing river, a green bush setting, a big stage at the base of a gentle hill. As we arrived, good people were already at work building a mandala of ochre and gum leaves across the earth. Marquee stalls of proud looking gents and shiny logs of wood dazzled the eye. Didgeridoo Breath held a space between our friends Ganga Giri and Bruce Rogers, who would both be performing that day and were in good spirits.

There was a lot of didge-talk that day. Punters from all over had congregated to learn more about how they could become involved with the oldest instrument of all mankind. There were lessons all day, talks of technique, waxing, tooting, fluting, commuting. Many hundreds of people! There was a ‘drone’ in the air it seemed.

Everyone performed well that day, and we had some real joy both on stage and off. A big thank you to the friends & fans who travelled to the festival to hear us play! The energy was well received.
A particularly special moment was an impromptu duet between Mark Atkins (yes, THE Mark Atkins) and Ondrej Smeykal (yes, THE Smeykal) – WOW!! The best in the classic bushman’s sound together with the best in contemporary technique was a rare moment, and many found themselves within a trance. We certainly tipped our hats to this powerful combo.

What we take from great events like this is a feeling of connectedness. Of One Big Mob. There were people there from countless cultural backgrounds, all sharing their differences, similarities, and respect for the didgeridoo, it’s origins, the people, and the land. On a larger scale, it was clear by the great sea of smiles all round that music in general prevails once again to bridge all gaps and take us to a higher place. A place we belong.

Thank you to Colin & the boys from the Didge Circle for running the show.
Congratulations to our prize winners on the day.
See you all next year ☺

Benni Böötz