Anyone familiar with my blog is aware that most of my posts originate from my experiences along the trail in local parks. Today’s post is not an exception, but it is somewhat unusual and definitely different from the usual sights I typically see along the trail.
That’s not the didgeridoo pictured at the top of the page, but except for that little tufted titmouse, a common sight along the trail, I took all of today’s photos around the fire pit at the bottom of the sledding hill in Chagrin River Park. Someone had built a little fire in the fire pit, but there were no frozen sled riders warming up around the flames. Yesterday’s high temperature topped out somewhere around 73 degrees, truly an anomaly for March in northeast Ohio. However, the usual group of regulars had gathered around the fire, and were being entertained by Ryan and his didgeridoo.
For the uninitiated, the didgeridoo is a wind instrument. Said to be the oldest wind instrument in the world, it originated with the Aborigines in Australia, many, many years ago. People who play it well, need to have excellent breath control and be willing to practice…a lot! Ryan, who brought his didgeridoo to Chagrin River Park, told me the instrument has been used to help people who have sleep apnea and by people who practice meditation. Ryan teaches yoga and has also used the instrument with his yoga classes. One more interesting fact about this unusual instrument: It is traditionally made from eucalyptus trees that have been hollowed out by termites.
I was curious and wanted to know more about the didgeridoo, so I googled it and found plenty of information online. A large number of recorded TED Talks included expert performances. If you’re curious and want to hear this instrument played, here are a couple of links to help you get started…
- Didgeridoo: Smily at TEDxTokyo
- The Sound of the Didgeridoo: Joe Schultz
… and below are a few more pictures of Ryan and his didgeridoo.
You never know what you might see along the trail in Chagrin River Park, and I’m glad I ran into Ryan at the fire pit today. It was an unexpected treat to hear his didgeridoo.
SEEN ALONG THE TRAIL 
Very interesting. I myself have experienced that the vibrations of didgeridoo are good for meditation
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I love the sound—eerie and magical to me. How wonderful there was someone in the park playing that ancient instrument.
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Thanks, Laurie. For a hollow tube with no keys, the didgeridoo is a very versatile instrument when played by someone with skill.
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My son has one – it certainly has a unique sound and takes a lot of practice to play!
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Much credit to your son, Eliza. I’ve added a couple of links to expert didgeridoo performers, and it’s easy to see that learning to play the instrument is a challenge.
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One needs big, tireless lungs and good breath control!
But given the choice, I’d prefer the cello. 😉
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Now that is an unusual sight on your trail walk but I bet the sound was fantastic!!
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Very unusual, Camille. I’ve added a couple of links of experts playing the instruments, so interested people can hear what it sounds like.
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I prefer strings to percussion also, but they both have their place. Do you play the cello?
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