nicely put Brian on all points
The old nature vs nurture issue... when I first started I thought "Nah, can't do this" no matter how hard I tried. I thought it might be an anatomical/physiological thing, at that time there was virtually no interest in trad styles and no-one born outside of Arnhem Land really making any sounds resembling trad. So I thought nature was at work here. But now I feel different, that nurture is what its all about. Language is nurture too, no-one is born with an innate ability to speak any particular language... I think, I could be wrong there.
Someone born into the culture definitely has an advantage in trad styles I'd say because it is heard from a young age, the clapstick patterns, the sense of timing and rhythm... all this permeates into the consciousness from an early age. For us Balanda its a catch-up game and we try to reach the end point quickly and there are ways to learn fast by utilising all resources available: CDs, videos, tips shared amongst friends, diagrams showing tongue positions etc. Yolngu don't learn that way though there is the beginning of "cross-overs" so to speak; ie. Mikey making use of YouTube videos to hear past Masters and to get their syncopations down pat. And conversely Balanda spending time with Yolngu to try to get first-hand experience and tuition.
I'll leave the NEAL questions to another time... I'm all forumed out lol.
Catch ya guys!
G
