I am very pleased to say that I recently worked with composer Adam Brown, providing didgeridoo tracks for three different pieces on his most recent album for Alibi Records.
If you want to have a listen they ore here:
http://alibi.sourceaudio.com/#!explorer?b=2909549&o=track_number&d=a&show=50&pg=0
The track names are Warrumbungles, Buduwang and Putuo
As part of an aboriginal themed day I visited Copthill Prep school nr Stamford.
After an initial assembly of some storytelling and didgeridoo playing I was lucky enough to have four workshops with various classes. Everyone got to have a go and we all played our didges along to some simple stories, using the sound effects and rhythms we learnt. Some classes even went outside and used found natural objects to make story sets and tell up their own didge stories with their won sound effects. Creative learning, creative thinking, all playing together, performing to a group, team building. oh, and alot of fun!
Here is the feedback from the school:
"Thanks so very much for sharing your incredible talents and all round loveliness with us yesterday. The children and staff were utterly inspired by the workshops!"
And this is the link to their news page on their website:
HI, I have three more didgeridoo videos here. Two were from the evening I went up to Glasgow to perform at a 60th wedding anniversary party, the other an improviasation in the living room with some primitive piano playing. Click the links below. Enjoy!
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This year has seen me deliver didgeridoo and Australia topic workshops in over 30 different schools around the Country, but it wasn't '
An average day long workshop with a class will include storytelling of some Aboriginal Australian tales, some of my own didgeridoo tales, didgeridoo playing and sometimetimes a bit of dance and movement too if time and space allows. People finish the session being aware of how didgeridoos came to be, find out that a didgeridoo or yidaki is more that just a musical instrument, something about the culture in which they come from and that they are now played around the world by all kinds of people. They are also very excited about being able to play one ofter the break.
After the break everyone gets to have a go on a didgeridoo. We learn simple sound making techniques, kangeroo 'tracks' and play a story together. There's also a bit of a challenge to see who can make a sound for the longest time. It was during this period at Brentry that the local bobby came by the school, not because of the noise pollution, but to drop off the seasonal newsletter. He was easily persuaded to have a go by headteacher Mr Clarke.
After the lunch break we went outside and made sculpture maps of the local area and it was then that some of the children made railway tracks in the map – there's a train track just behind the school.
When we had spent some time on the map ( I think the children were just getting into it, but getting cold too) we colected worm casts and went inside to make earth paints and do some painting.
A fine way to end the year of didgeridoo and aboriginal art workshops.
Great fun was had recently at the Magdalen Project. I was asked to delver an entertaining evening workshop on storytelling and didgeridoo with the Envision Charity as a precursor to knowledge ecologist Ron Donaldson doing some story based work with the regional teams the next day.
Jennie Butterworth, Envision CEO, had this to say about it:
"Totally perfect evening in my book and a great one for Envision some serious points put across in a fun and entertaining way is what always impresses us.
Chris and Ron should definitely do more together – it worked really well having you inspire people before the workshops.
Here are some photos – I am expecting some more and will send them over to you when I get them.
“at our residential conference we really want people to let their hair down and enjoy themselves in the evenings – but to be fresh the next day. This was perfect we all had a great time – a massive amount of fun together and some wonderful stories that sent people to bed happy and sober! Obviously people at Envision are pretty passionate about environmental issues – so it was great that the stories had deep meanings as well as being entertaining. Chris told them in so many different ways becoming so many different characters. He makes a very good jumping spider! ”
Didgeridoo sounds fill the valley
The Tamar Valley will be alive with the sounds of didgeridoos next Wednesday, August 1 when Chris Holland fills the surrounding trails and woodlands with the eerie sounds of the Australian instrument.
Holland, who is better known as the Didgeridoo Man, will mix music, story telling, earth painting, bushcraft, games and activities at the Bedford Sawmills as part of the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty summer series of activities for families.
Children are sure to be enthralled by Holland who will don full Aboriginal face paint as plays his music and tells stories.
A spokesman from the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project, the £5 million Heritage Lottery funded project which celebrates the rich mining landscape of the valley and its 25km of designated trails, said: “We’re really looking forward to watching Chris perform. We are sure everyone will be entranced by his remarkable skills as a musician and it will also be a great opportunity for children to have a go to as well as enjoy his brilliant story telling and join in in the other activities.”
The session will take place from 1.30pm until 5pm which will cost £5 per child and 5.30pm to 8.30pm which will also cost £5 per child with an additional £2.50 for hot dogs and marshmallows around the campfire.
Further information can be found at www.facebook.co/TVAONB or by calling Becki Lumbis on 01822 835030.
I am excited about going up to Lincoln to lead two days of didgeridoo and environmental art in the arboretum, as part of an international arts week.
Will post some photos later but in the meantime click this link to see the poster http://abbeyaccesslincoln.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/International-Arts-Week-2012-poster2.pdf
Here is a link to an interview that the year 6 bloggers at Holbrook Primary School made when I visited their school.
The questions are very fine indeed. Nice work you bloggers!
HI Folks – here is a short vocal and didgeridoo improvisation I did in Steeple Ashton's (WILTS UK) church…it surprised me… it might you too! Let me know if you like it or not. And if you do, why. Thanks
there is another, more traditional didgeridoo piece too…didgeridoo in the dark 2.
Love
Chris
Please watch this video if you want to know more about what is going on in Australia now, even after the apology there is much to do… you could help by making a donation to survival international if you felt moved to. I do every year.
