A news letter  for Didjeridu players     Jan. 96                                                                               Volume # 002 Issue 1

Mind your own beeswax!

 We try to stock beeswax in medium sized cakes for $3.00 so that didj players 
always know where they can get a supply for patching cracks and mending or 
adjusting mouthpieces. In this issue, we will discuss different ways to make 
a beeswax mouthpiece.

The first method is much like making a candle. It involves repeatedly dipping 
your mouthpiece into a container of melted wax, gradually building up a 
mouthpiece much as you gradually build a candle around a wick by dipping it 
briefly into the hot wax.
 Put your beeswax cake in an old soup can. Put a sauce ban of water on the 
boil and place the soup can containing the beeswax in the boiling water and 
melt the beeswax completely.  Once the wax is in a liquid state, dip the 
mouthpiece end of your didjeridu into the melted wax for just a few seconds. 
Wait a few seconds for the wax on the mouthpiece to dry, turn your instrument 
a few degrees and again dip the mouthpiece in the melted wax. Keep repeating 
this process until the mouthpiece diameter is approximately 1.25 inches or 
till it appears to be the right size for you.
 The second method involves molding the mouthpiece by hand. First we need to 
warm a bit of wax just enough that it is malleable like clay. In the summer, 
I just leave a bit of wax on a plate out on the deck and let the sun do the 
work. In the winter, I put some wax on a plate and microwave it for about 2 
minutes. Once the beeswax is soft, we can begin to roll it between our hands 
to make a "snake". Make a wax "snake" approximately six inches in length and 
adjust the thickness to approximate the difference between your current 
mouthpiece diameter and the diameter you desire. Now apply the mouthpiece 
buy pushing the wax onto the mouthpiece end of the didjeridu. Work all the 
way around the mouthpiece, cut off the excess length and mold the mouthpiece 
to exactly the shape you like.
 We are often asked what the ideal size and shape for a beeswax mouthpiece is. 
The answer is what works best for  you. That's the beauty of using beeswax! 
You can change the shape and size of the mouthpiece fairly easily by adding 
or removing more wax. While playing, the wax generally gets warm enough to 
shape a bit and you can experiment with different configurations to your 
hearts content. Because the beeswax will conform to the shape of your mouth 
to some degree, you can often "play" a didj into the proper shape for you.

How to clean a beeswax mouthpiece...

 Beeswax mouthpieces are easily replaced and if your mouthpiece is truly 
dirty, that's probably the best thing you can do. If you are concerned about 
bacteria, it's fairly easy to do a 'touch up' on it by dipping it into a 
can of melted wax just a couple of times to put a fresh coat of new wax on it. 
This will make if look brand new and the hot wax will pasteurize it.
Using a solution of 40% ethanol (like vodka) is a safe (especially if you 
refrain from drinking it !) and effective wipe or spray on disinfectant. 
Music stores usually care some type of alcohol based mouthpiece spray which 
are used on brass instrument mouthpieces. These are intended for use on metal 
mouthpieces and should be promptly wiped off . They usually contain 
disinfectants which can be very irritating to sensitive skin like your lips.

Should I let others play my didjeridu ?

I can't answer that question for you. It's a choice you have to make for 
yourself. Notice the little sign in front of the didjeridus at Australian 
Originals which says , "please do not play the didjeridus?" That sign is 
not there because you can't try out a didjeridu to see if you want to buy 
it. It's there so the person who does buy doesn't buy all the germs of all 
the people who have put their lips on it. The best advice I can give you 
before you pass your didjeridu to a friend to have a blow on it is to first 
ask yourself, "would I kiss that person, on  the lips, passionately and for 
a long time?" If  the answer is yes, no worries mate!

What's in store ?

 This month, we've got tapes on sale for $10 and CD's for $15. In addition, 
we've got some nice new yidakis from Arnhem Land in. We will continue the 
beginner's specials which include a learner's didjeridu, book and audio 
cassette. Their are didjeridu options : plastic for $49 and drilled timber 
for $99. If you know someone who's been wanting to get started, these 
packages are an inexpensive way to learn all the basic skills needed to 
play and enjoy this marvelous gift from the Aboriginal Peoples of Australia 
that we call the didjeridu.

Didjeri News is published by Australian Originals  28 SW 1st, Portland, Oregon  97204 (503) 228 4484



	MARCH 4, 1997