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Frequently asked questions
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Getting started
I am a complete beginner. Is this for me?
Yes, Wakademy was actually created for you. The free course requires no prior musical knowledge. Welcome to this wonderful world of sounds and rhythms!
I don’t have a didgeridoo yet.
Start without one! Part of the course is practised without the instrument: that is really the key, syncing the mechanism before applying it to the didgeridoo. And to get started, a PVC didgeridoo for about €30 is perfect. Read the guide to choose your didgeridoo
How does a didgeridoo work?
The didgeridoo, which comes to us from the Aboriginal people of Australia, is a simple tube: wood, plastic, metal, it doesn’t matter. It is the amplifier of your body. Your goal? Make your lips vibrate in the didgeridoo to make it resonate. Keep in mind that the didgeridoo has only one note, from which we draw the natural harmonics with the tongue. The cheeks, the throat, the voice and the pressure of the lips then work on the timbre and create the whole multitude of sounds.
How do I make the drone sound?
The principle is actually quite simple. First, make your lips vibrate completely relaxed, like a horse. Then pinch them little by little: the vibration concentrates in the centre, and your sound gradually stabilises. Place your lips well on the mouthpiece, without letting any air escape. The whole challenge then is to find the right balance between tension and relaxation, quite an art! See the lesson on your first drone
Do I need circular breathing to start?
It is better to start with the drone. Wanting circular breathing at all costs is one of the five mistakes most beginners make. Start with a very stable, straight sound, and learn to inflate and deflate your cheeks. In parallel, you can work on the circular breathing mechanism without the didgeridoo, then apply it to your instrument.
Can I learn the didgeridoo on my own?
Of course! I taught myself almost everything. But to afford that luxury, you need time… To give just one example, I realised 17 years after I started how much the bounce shapes all the playing around the breaths. It was like a revelation but, gosh, it took me a while! With Wakademy, I share my experience so you can save a few years of searching.
How long does it take?
It is not always easy at first… and that is normal. Keep faith: with a little regularity, everything becomes more natural. And believe me, even in a few days you can already make a lot of progress. All my advice for a good start
Is circular breathing hard?
Let’s start with the most important thing: demystify the technique! Circular breathing is far from a mysterious technique, and believe in yourself: you can absolutely do it.
When you think about it, circular breathing is simply:
- an air reserve in your cheeks;
- then, while you breathe in through your nose, you push this air reserve out.
So start by putting circular breathing within your reach. Tell yourself: “Thousands of people have managed circular breathing, I don’t see why I wouldn’t!” With the right exercises, I guarantee it comes quite quickly!
How long does it take to learn circular breathing?
Learning and mastering circular breathing in all its forms takes years. But the basic technique is actually quite accessible, and rapidly: with good exercises and a previously stabilized sound, most of my students understand the mechanism in 2 or 3 classes, no more. If you still have a little gap but everything is synchronised, you have it: it is just a matter of running it in. Sometimes it can take longer, it’s true (a few months), but with regular practice and the right exercises, it ends up happening!
Can you circular breathe without a didgeridoo?
Yes. My way of teaching is to practise circular breathing without the didgeridoo first, then with it: it is the first of the four steps of my free course.
Does learning online really work?
Learning the didgeridoo in front of a screen is obviously tricky. That is why, with the personal follow-up offered as an option in the courses, you can send me a video of your playing: I reply with audio feedback.
Practice
How do I play rhythms on the didgeridoo?
Circular breathing is the skeleton of your rhythm. Most of the time, we play sounds and breathe afterwards, as when we speak: on the didgeridoo, it is a mistake. Just breathe every time, regularly: a sound, a breath, a sound, a breath. That decides how fast or how slow you are going to be. See my lesson on your first rhythms
Does the straw and glass of water exercise help?
I have met a few people it helped. But water in a glass has very little resistance: with a tiny bit of air, you will see bubbles appear, whereas in a didgeridoo you have to send much more than a tiny bit of air. So it is an exercise I don’t particularly recommend, but give it a try anyway: you never know, it might trigger a click!
Circular breathing or continuous breathing: is it the same thing?
Yes! Both terms are right and describe the same technique. In the didgeridoo world, we often even say CB (for circular breathing), simply because it’s quicker to say.
And the reason for this name is quite easy to understand: when circular breathing flows, you really feel like a circle feeding itself. It’s very pleasant, your head switches off, your mind calms down, and that’s where the addiction begins. 🙂
What is circular breathing for?
After the drone, it’s the step that will give birth to all your playing. Circular breathing is the support of your rhythms: breathing in regularly is what gives that feeling of a rhythm moving forward.
But going further, I’d even say that circular breathing is only the starting point. Everything begins with it!
I’ve been trying for weeks and it’s not coming…
Often, when it doesn’t work, it’s because you skipped a step. Go back to the previous step and practise it again, even if it takes several days. When it feels smooth enough, move on to the next one.
And don’t listen to those who tell you they spent a year on it without ever succeeding. Most of the time, they gave up quickly, or they had the wrong exercises. As for me, I have hundreds of students (thousands? I’ve stopped counting!) who have managed circular breathing: so believe in yourself, you’ll get there!
Does my didgeridoo make a difference?
Yes, it can. If the diameter at the beginning of your didgeridoo (without the mouthpiece) is very open, around 45 or 50 mm, it will ask you for more air and send you less back pressure. In return, the sound is much softer, and there’s room for the overtones (most of my didgeridoos are like that!).
But let’s admit it: when you’re starting out, it can be tricky.
If that’s your case, pinch the corners of your lips a little more. And don’t forget one essential thing: your body is the instrument. The didgeridoo is just the amplifier, you’re in control!
Do other instruments use circular breathing?
Yes! It’s almost always linked to the didgeridoo, but many traditional instruments use it too: the zurna, an oboe from the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the launeddas from Sardinia, the double flute from Rajasthan, or the Armenian duduk, with its melancholic sound. Personally, I have a soft spot for the duduk played by Levon Minassian.
I introduce five of them in this article.
I don’t have time to play.
I recommend setting aside 15 minutes a day (or 30 minutes every other day). Working on the exercises in the shower, while driving or on a walk will save you a lot of time: you would not believe how much you can practise without a didgeridoo! And rhythm can be sung: a rhythm you can sing is a rhythm you can play.
Will I receive a lot of e-mails?
First you receive the course lessons, one a day, with my tips to avoid the classic beginner mistakes. After that, about one or two e-mails a month to share my latest videos, articles or tracks, and occasionally a promotion (very rarely: the goal is not to spam you, but to share my passion with you!).
Payment & access
How long do I have access to the course?
Once purchased, you have lifetime access to the course! Just log in to Wakademy to watch the videos online, as often as you like.
I am not used to buying courses online.
An online course gives you access to exercises and advice you would not find elsewhere, given how few teachers there are, and you progress at your own pace from home. Payment is secure, and if there is the slightest problem, you can e-mail me.
Workshops
I have never played the didgeridoo. Is the workshop right for me?
I welcome all levels, from complete novices to experienced players. That said, if you can at least play the drone (even not very elegantly), it is a real plus. You can also start practising with the free circular breathing course: even in a few days you can make a lot of progress, which will make the workshop much easier.
I don’t have a didgeridoo. Can you lend me one?
Unfortunately, I don’t lend didgeridoos during workshops. However, you can order a PVC instrument for about €30. These didgeridoos are perfect for beginners and you can keep playing with them at home. Choose a didgeridoo
I would like to come for just one day. Is that possible?
Priority goes to people who want to attend both days, partly to keep the group consistent and partly to make sure I cover my costs. However, if there are places left a few days before the workshop, get in touch and we can talk about it!
Are your workshops open to children?
You may have noticed I don’t say much about it! Simply because a two-day workshop is intensive and takes quite a lot of motivation. But if your child is really keen to play for two days, they are very welcome!
There is no workshop near me.
Finding venues is always tricky. But if you know a place near you, we can talk about me coming! All I need is the venue: I organise everything else.
What I look for in a venue
- A room of 30 to 50 m², plus separate spaces to go and practise on your own.
- Two days, roughly 9:30 am to 6 pm.
- Accommodation nearby (not essential).
- Shared meals, unless catering is provided.
Then I take care of everything: the workshop page on Wakademy, online booking, a reminder e-mail… and we all meet on the day.
To organise it, let’s talk directly: write to me.
Contact
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I always answer. It can sometimes take a week or so, but it always comes (check your spam folder!).