iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Hi Ambros,

Is that a question for me? If so, yes!

Guan

Hi all,

thanks Guan, you're the one!

Here comes another try:

Hey Guan,
what's the meaning of these new Bs 'n letters in your icon and this faded out sandworm like pic bottom right?

Curiousbros

Hi Ambros,

The Meet the Stars report might give you some clues for the Bs. The other things I can't say...

Cheers!

Guan

Hi guys,
Here is my attempt. I think the tongue movements not the best....plenty of work!

John

Sounds good John! Maybe not as fast as Laga, but speed ain't everything. Well done.

Kyle

Thanks Kyle!

Hi John,

Good one, you guys improved 100% at "Meet the Stars" - all credit to you. Its the first time I've seen something like that happen, every single person managed to get a handle on trad technique. I was worried that it would just be another workshop with little improvement... life always offers up surprises! Again, congrats for the diligence and hard work, puts me to shame really.

I've got a new 2 TB hard drive now, trying to re-format it but not really succeeding but when I do manage to do so, will put up the vids.

Keep well guys, been a tough day so I better get some rest. Catch ya tomorrow!

Guan

Sure that will be big enough!!??

Guan,
The mouth sounds are hugely helpful. Since I have been getting back in the swing of things, I have been using the sounds we talked about when I visited in 2002. It's even more helpful when it is put in "English" (i.e. hit the door). These help me memorize and recognize the pattern because it is in terms I understand. The written form of Yolngu language is I think more applicable for learning the language but when learning mouth sounds, the silent letters and "ng's" seem more difficult. However, I can see how it is also beneficial because it is native form. If you were thinking about putting something together, maybe the intro phase is more English centric and the more advanced phase is more Yolngu Matha centric?

On a separate but related note, Djalu did/does a thing with his fingers when teaching. For each "verse" he put his thumb to the tip of his index finger, then the middle, then the bottom. If memory serves, he then moved on to the next finger and then moved back at points. It put a physical representation to the pattern of play and I always felt that if I understood it better, it would have been an awesome learning tool. If light could be shed on that riddle, it would be awesome.

Regards,

Garth

Hey Paul, Hey Garth,

Paul, I've got several 2 TB drives all filled as I'm trying to archive the video material I have, next I have to tackle old field cassette tapes and Minidiscs (remember those things??), hope they're still good and not deteriorated.

Garth, welcome, good to be in touch again and happy fatherhood to you! With learning trad rhythms, I found it useful in the early days to try to notate the patterns using Yolngu Matha orthography, back then the diths and drrongs were so confusing but writing down these patterns enabled me to make sense of some of it.

Well, Saturday morning here which means one thing... shopping at the local fresh produce market. Catch ya guys later.

Guan

Hi,
The 'Meet the Stars' event was very usefull for all of us I think...when you have a chance to spend a week with the best players, it is a different stage of the learning process. But the 'hardwork' is just coming now!!!
After the masterclass with Laga, I see his playing on a different way than before...hopefully I'm a little bit closer....
Playing the Yidaki is one of the most beautiful thing in the world, isn't it?

Al the best everyone!
John