iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Hi Guan! Greetings everyone.

I think it will be interesting to make here some kind of a competition in a NEAL style.
A winner must take a really good prize as yirdaki!
It could make us doing our best.
Also it could be really honest for those who play really good but can't afford to buy a good instrument.

What do you think about it?

Alexander.

Who's going to donate the prize yidaki and who's going to judge? Pretty important to work these things out before undertaking such a competition methinks!

I don't know who makes such actions like "win a free didgeridoo" that i saw many times in ididj store.
May be they could donate.
The judges i think could be someone like Adam Marrilaga, David Dharrapuy, Quincey Matjaki and Guan i think could too.

If you already play real good, this means you already have a yidaki... then why not give the prize to the worst player playing on the worst toilet-paper-tube in order to let him improve on the real-deal ? Uh ?

Yes Alexander, looks like there is a method in your madness!!! how about posting a sound file for us to hear your playing for free, we would certainly be interested in hearing you. I tend to agree with Francis (above) on this. Guans freebies are usually based on a donation to the philanthropy cause(ie the highest donor being the one who earns the instrument) or some kind of knowledge based competition both of which shows that the entrants have a real interest in aboriginal affairs and culture of which Yidaki/Mago playing is a small part. Guans hand is forever in his pocket as he does his best to support Aboriginal families in whatever way he can, one way he does this is by selling quality Arnhem Land instruments. Admittedly, just now and then, a no brainer enrty comes up for grabs, probably to generate interest in the site and the aboriginal cause as a whole, presumably in the hope that this will this have a positive outcome. I think the idea is good, especially getting the kind of judges you mention to judge it but just for fun. My view is that we are priviledged to be able to hear and play NEAL and WAL styles of play but to use that playing in a competition to benefit ourselves materially is, from my point of view, wrong. Everyone to their own I suppose. But I do agree that it would be nice for those who really want to play, yet genuinely can't afford one, to have a decent didge, how this will come about though , no ideas!!!

Paul

I will start to answer from the end. Please write simply - my english is not so good.

First - i'm not talking about myself - i've got a beautiful Burrngupurrngu stick and happy with it. Thanks a lot to Guan and Yolngu people . Of course i would be twice happier if i had second stick. But it must be merit.
Next - i do not hope that i'm the best. Too many good players.

In our county, for example, (Russian Federation) if you have a middle wage, you have to work 2 months to earn 1000 AUD stick. While in some other countries you can afford it on unemployment benefit.

I agree that we are happy to hear these styles and more, to get some knowledge about these beautiful technics of playing. I can't even imagine what a power stands behind them. Big thanks and respect to Guan Lim for sharing with us!

Actualy i don't like a word "competition" but you understand what i was trying to say. The prize is not money. The prize is a wood. (Honestly, i'm worried a lot about quantity of ecaliptus trees in australia that does not appear in a moment) But is it so much - 1 stick for a great interest - a practice-everyday-interest. Will it rob yolngu people?

I don't agree that you can play good NEAL style only if you have a yirdaki. It's possible to train these technics on a self-made wood didg. Again, i'm not sayin that i play good. I'm saying that i don't play worse on an other no-Yolngu instrument. Tomorrow i will upload some records with self-made didg and my favorite yirdaki

Alexander.

Some interesting ideas and thoughts there, a bit too tired right now to think much and consider different options but yea I would like to give away more things including yirdaki and mago and have had exactly these same thoughts since the end of last year but just haven't gotten around to doing anything. Perhaps we can have such a promotion/contest/whatever you want to call it for forum members only rather than open it to the whole YouTube or didj scene? So any ideas will be considered. The thing is that when I do promotions or special events like this that there should be an outcome at the end of it that has a benefit for community... whether it is Arnhem Land communities and Aboriginal owners/custodians of the instrument (viz. iDIDJ Philanthropy, increased market share of the didgeridoo pie by Yolngu and Bininj in the Top End of Australia, etc. etc.) or the global didgeridoo community (viz. increased awareness of issues and education imperatives) - the two are interrelated of course. When we are educated, we make good informed choices which I believe benefit Aboriginal people in the Top End; when we are not, we make bad ones.

In a nutshell, I'm open to good ideas and would be thrilled if beautiful instruments here find good homes, or those who can't afford a purchase can get something with a little bit of effort and no cash.

Guan

This is an interesting side to the whole didge/Yidaki/Mago awarness topic that every so often apears on forums etc about origin and who does what with sticks. I myuself have my own personal take on this I have some knowledge base as to where the didge comes from (ie top end and I dont think anyone on this forum will dis agree with that etc etc) and I personally will share that knowledge with everyone and anyone who is prepared to listen.

However I find the most interesting and best way of spreading that knowledge base is with the instruments them selves (as its not your "normal" instrument people pick up on ie guitar, piano drums etc etc). I personally do regular work shops in the school I work with plastic pipes and my own self made split sticks (for a number of reasons mostly they are kids and wouldnt want one of my £100/150 good stick broken because one of the kids has had a bad day (seen entire class rooms destroid whilst ive been there) love it keeps you on your toes). This gets them talking about the whole thing and makes THEM ask questions. Also im the total weirdo that plays a hollow tree trunk (my tutor groups words not mine) which also gives me respect from them as im "different" like they are but also makes them ask questions.

education in my mind is the key to this whole thing, the more people we can get asking questions about didge, top end, aboriginal culture, hollow tree trunks, why are you weird, whats that art work all about, whats the difference between a Didge, Yidaki and a mago etc etc more the beter this world will be.

any way thats the end of my rant for now as I have to look after the girls in the morning and need my beauty sleep (some might say need a long lie in tommorow perfect face for radio ha ha).

Guan and everyone keep up the good work and as they used to say in the Northern Soul Scene here in the UK (look it up brilliant stuff) "Keep the Faith"

and if I have any more thoughts ill let you know Guan hay there we go there is the "comp" right before my eyes whilst sitting here typing this N.B it could be about the most interesting and most effective way of spreading the word. best ideas wins? lets brain storm......