Anyone tried learning to play a didgeridoo?

[Muse-Inc]

I've read articles that learning how to and playing this instrument appears to improve apnea (severe-->moderate, moderate-->mild, mild-->none). Apparently, because you have this rather unique way of breathing while simultaneously playing, that activity 'tones' up the airway muscles/tissues (called circular breathing). I read an article that said some respiratory therapists are training apnea 'sufferers' (yeah, "sufferers" works) with techniques that achieve the same ends -- more toned muscles and finding improvements with several months 'practice.'

While trying to learn the first step (no instrument needed), I discovered just how shallowly I currently breathe...sad, used to belly breathe, not anymore *sigh*. So I keep practicing Step 1 which involves making a sorta raspberry sound with your lips flapping -- looks ridiculous *G* -- but I am taking deeper breaths again after only a fews days of this 'practice.' Any one else noticed after starting CPAP use that their breathing became shallower? Or, is this just unique to me...maybe it's unrelated to CPAP therapy.

I was curious if any of you have tried this for your apnea.

[timbalionguy]

I haven't but would sure like to. A number of ancient Celtic wind instruments work on the same principle as the didgeridoo. One of these has been recreated and is used by the Celtic band 'Wicked Tinkers'.

I suspect that playing the bagpipes would have a similar positive effect, and is another instrument I would like to learn.

I am (half) Irish, not Scottish.

[grandmma]

I've not had lessons on this, however for 20 years or so until I recently moved, I had a digeridoo in the loungeroom. VERY hard to play - as you say, you blow a type of raspberry with your lips, flapping them - and this makes the digeridoo sound when you blow through it. The trick I believe is to keep breathing through your nose whilst you are doing this - as you say, circular breathing - something no one who ever went through our house could do.

Don't know about helping sleep apnea, but sounds interesting. I don't know that improved muscles would help apnea when it is the narrowness of the passageways which causes many people's apnea, but then I'm not up on that side of things - looking forward to updates from you on how it goes!

[Wulfman]

If you do a forum Search on it, you'll find a number of threads.


Den

[Muse-Inc]

Thanks Wulfman! Will search...duh, didn't think of that...must be that memory thing...again *G*!

[yardbird]

I play didjeridoo. I have a couple of them. Can't say it has help my OSA, but who knows? Maybe I'd be worse if I didn't play it. On one hand it's not that hard to play but on the other hand I can see where anyone who is "breathing challenged" might be scared off by it. You can make a practice didj quite easily.

Get a piece of 1-1/4" PVC pipe cut to right about 48 inches long.

That's the easy part. Now while you're looking at the PVC pipe at your local builder supply (Home Depot, Lowes, whatever...) see if they have a inch and a quarter fitting that has somewhat rounded edges. The kind of fitting you'd slip a hose for a pool over works very well for this. If you just cut a piece of PVC pipe, the edges are very squared off and kinda sharp. It won't be comfortable to play. You don't need PVC glue and cleaner and all that just to try this. Just jam the fitting on and tape it if you have to. It should not leak. If it does you'll have more difficulty.

If you can't find a fitting you CAN file or sand one end of the pipe BUT ONLY IN WATER. Filing isn't so bad, but do NOT sand PVC pipe in the open air and breath the dust. You'll have it forever and it's not nice to you. Get a piece of "wet/dry" sandpaper and just stick the end of the pipe in a bucket of water and sand it so it doesn't have sharp edges. You won't need to do much sanding. Probably take you longer to fill the bucket and empty it than it does to actually sand the pipe.

You could also get a big wad of bees wax, make a "donut" the size of the pipe and push that onto the end and mold it with your fingers so it's forming a rounded "mouthpiece". The hole you're putting your mouth to, for most beginners, should be about 1-1/8" to 1-1/4". That seems easiest for folks to start on.

Making the "drone" sound. Blowing raspberries pretty much describes what you do with your mouth, but more loose.... like blowing a motorboat sound. Most people start out with their lips too tight. This isn't a trumpet. Loose, LOOSE, LOOSE.... loosen up those lips.

Circular breathing. Why do this? Because it allows you to maintain the drone sound for more than 1 breath. Without it, you can only maintain a note for the duration of one breath. WITH it, you can drone on much longer. Essentially you are allowing your cheeks to puff up, closing off your throat, squeezing air out of your puff up cheeks to keep the sound going, and snatching a quick inhale though your nose, then transitioning back to your new lungfull of air to maintain the drone. Sounds almost frighteningly hard doesn't it?

Try this.... while in the shower, get a mouthful of water. Now with your chipmunk cheeks full of water, pucker your lips so that you, gently squeeze out a very thin stream of water while you breathe through your nose. It's a bit easier practicing water in mouth with air coming through nose because you naturally close your throat so you don't mix them and breathe the water. If you can do this, and most people have no trouble with it, then you can learn circular breathing.

I learned it in under 3 days.

Once you get a drone going on the didj... reshape your mouth to vary the sound. Kinda like going.... "eeeyoo....eeeeeeyoooo....

or a kangaroo (boing boing boing) except you can't do a "b" or the sound will stop and you won't quite finish the "g" or your throat will close and stop the sound. So it's kinda more like "oin, oin, oin".

So there you have it. Your first didj lesson. ENJOY!
It won't cure your OSA, but it *might* have some benefit if the breathing exercise is a benefit.
AND... you will learn how to play an instrument that very few (other than aboriginal Australians) can play.

I believe it is the oldest know woodwind instrument and the aboriginal story behind its "invention" is fascinating.

[Raj]

I'm experimenting with this right now. One wonders what, exactly, inspired the Australian aboriginal originator who'd found a termite-stuffed eucalyptus branch to think: hey, why don't I evict all these termites and flap my lips inside this hollow branch?

[yardbird]

The story as told to me... and I hope I get it fairly correct....

Some aboriginal australians were sitting around a fire. They were using eucalyptus wood to burn as it was plentiful. One of them was about to toss another log on the fire when he noticed it was full of "white ants" (termites). Being very aware of these tiny living things and not wanting to hurt them unnecessarily, he put the mostly hollowed out log to his lips and blew the ants out. They were blown up into the night sky and became the stars. The sound from the log was quite by accident but has been enjoyed ever since.

[Goofproof]

I'm experimenting with this right now. One wonders what, exactly, inspired the Australian aboriginal originator who'd found a termite-stuffed eucalyptus branch to think: hey, why don't I evict all these termites and flap my lips inside this hollow branch?

He was probably thinking these termites are pretty tasty, when I finish them off, I'll blow on this and maybe I can sell it to a American. Actually the termites are better roasted ot toasted, as our most animals. Jim

[LinkC]

They were using eucalyptus wood to burn as it was plentiful. One of them was about to toss another log on the fire when he noticed it was full of "white ants" (termites).

Are you sure it was eucalyptus? Sounds like they discovered the didgeridoo AND pot...all on the same night!

[Muse-Inc]

[quote="yardbird"]ISo there you have it. Your first didj lesson. ENJOY!

Cool! Thanks Yardbird..for the history and the lesson! Stuck at Step 2, the puffing up cheeks and making the same sound...got a small face, I haven't given up yet. But, I am breathing deeper which helps me feel calmer and more relaxed overall...that's a plus right there *G*!

[roster]

........ I discovered just how shallowly I currently breathe.........

It seems playing any high resistance wind instrument might help http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/ ... 060209.php .

I thought about making a didge. But then I decided the time spent playing it for my health, would be better spent doing strenuous exercise. The exercise is much more fun also.

Either way, with a severe OSA case, I will have to use CPAP the rest of this life.

Suit yourself.

Rooster
CPAP: No protection for the chronically off-key.

[grandmma]

Some aboriginal australians were sitting around a fire. They were using eucalyptus wood to burn as it was plentiful. One of them was about to toss another log on the fire when he noticed it was full of "white ants" (termites). Being very aware of these tiny living things and not wanting to hurt them unnecessarily, he put the mostly hollowed out log to his lips and blew the ants out. They were blown up into the night sky and became the stars. The sound from the log was quite by accident but has been enjoyed ever since.

Haven't heard that one, thanks.

The aborigines have some wonderful dreamtime stories of how things came about - lakes filling, birds have colour, sun in the sky, etc. That one's another, will remember it.

PS love that you got the terminology correct - they are aborigines, or aboriginal Australians - not aboriginals.

[FatiguedMe]

I have a Native American Flute! Wondering if this counts any? Oh well if not, it sounds beautiful playing it anyway!

[Froro]

........ I discovered just how shallowly I currently breathe.........

It seems playing any high resistance wind instrument might help http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/ ... 060209.php .

I thought about making a didge. But then I decided the time spent playing it for my health, would be better spent doing strenuous exercise. The exercise is much more fun also.

Either way, with a severe OSA case, I will have to use CPAP the rest of this life.

Suit yourself.

Rooster
CPAP: No protection for the chronically off-key.

I'm having a hard time with any of this. I play Tuba, (and trombone, baritone, trumpet, etc). You get quite the workout with the tuba and it's no help to me with my apnea. I've been playing tuba since I was 12. I play violin and bass guitar too, but my favorite still is my tuba...those deep rich tones...ahhh. I can't imagine being able to work my lungs or throat anymore than I do with that thing.