Students learn to play the didgeridoo

Students used their mouths and different breathing techniques to make music with PVC pipes on March 6, the Thursday before spring break, in Collins Living-Learning Center.\nThe students were participating in the “Do-It-Yourself Didgeridoo Workshop.” The workshop gave students the opportunity to learn how to make and play their own didgeridoos, long, narrow instruments played in Australia. \nAt the beginning of the workshop, Australian musician and storyteller Paul Taylor played his didgeridoo for the group. \nTaylor then talked about the history of the didgeridoo and the different tones the instruments can produce.\n“The land gives you the instrument,” Taylor said.\nMost didgeridoos, including the ones Taylor played that night, were made from trees in Australia. \nTaylor spoke about the symbolism of the paintings on his didgeridoo and explained that they represented his family.\nTaylor encouraged the participants to pick up one of the PVC pipes and “go with the flow.”\nThe participants laughed as they attempted to play the didgeridoo in the relaxing setting.\nThis was the first time sophomore Emil Ridout played \nthe instrument.\n“I think getting your lips to relax so it resonates is the hardest thing,” Ridout said. \nThe students then tried to play with the bigger PVC tube, which was meant to imitate a D note. \nWith the smaller pipe, the students just had to sand down the mouthpiece. With the larger tube, they had to mold beeswax around the mouthpiece. \nWhile students were playing, Taylor went around the room and gave them advice on playing.\n“Blow, rest, blow, rest,” Taylor said.\nHe also told participants to put a finger to their ears while playing. \nAfter all the participants got adjusted to playing, they all sat around a circle with Taylor.\nTaylor further explained different rhythms that are used for playing the didgeridoo.\nHe led the group with playing different rhythms and showed them how to play using circular breathing. Taylor then showed them how to imitate animal noises by playing. Traditional Australian music imitates different animal noises, \nhe said.\nAs the night progressed, students had the choice to keep playing, start painting their didgeridoo or eat pizza. \nJunior Ben Gibson decided to keep playing. He said he came to the workshop because he always liked to hear the sound of the didgeridoo.\n“I’m sure now that I have my DIY didgeridoo, I will keep on playing.” he said.\nBefore everyone left, Taylor showed the group how to practice breathing by blowing bubbles into a straw in a cup of water.\nFreshman Nathan Wells painted his instrument to reflect his individual style.\n“My personality is most like a monkey,” Wells said. “So that’s what I’m going to put on (the didgeridoo).”\nThe Collins Arts Council and the Lotus Blossoms program put the workshop together because both parties thought it would be beneficial for the Collins community, said Lee Williams, director of the Lotus Education and Arts Foundation.\n“They learn how to create something from nothing and learn about culture all at the same time,” Williams said.