Introducing the Didgeridoo

Anthony Thompson demonstrates the Didgeridoo:

Anthony Thompson has no connection with North Tyneside Brass in Schools but we like his short videos!

The Didgeridoo is a traditional musical instrument played by vibrating the lips to produce a continuous drone while using a special breathing technique called circular breathing. The didgeridoo was developed by Aboriginal peoples of northern Australia at least 1,500 years ago.

It is classed as a “brass” musical instrument because the drone is produced by buzzing with the lips, even though the traditional instrument is made from hollowed out wood. As well as producing the drone, the player may make other sounds such as clicking the tongue or vocalising.

A didgeridoo is usually cylindrical or conical, and can measure anywhere from 1 to 3 m (3 to 10 ft) long. Most are around 1.2 m (4 ft) long. Generally, the longer the instrument, the lower its pitch or key. However, flared instruments play a higher pitch than unflared instruments of the same length.