Introduction
The lessons of duduk playing. Important for beginners.
Dear friend. If you have decided to bring into your life the most amazing of all the wind instruments, duduk, it is important initially to choose the professional instrument, and to learn how to play it.
The task is not a simple one, yet you are here to achieve it.
I will help you.
Here I have got all the necessary materials.
Have pleasure and joy studying them.
The task is not a simple one, yet you are here to achieve it.
I will help you.
Here I have got all the necessary materials.
Have pleasure and joy studying them.
Vernissage in Yerevan,
Armenia
Armenia
Here you can buy only souvenirs
Contact
only the master
only the master
Only by having a direct connection with the master, you can get a high-quality duduk
How to choose duduk
In order to properly choose duduk, one should know:
- The reason to play it.
- What type of tuning is necessary.
- What will one play (folk music or author's compositions)
- If one is going to play in an ensemble or band, one has to properly choose the tonality of instrument according to the keys for the whole band.
- Having chosen the duduk, one has to choose reeds (light, medium or heavy ones)
- For the safe transporting of instrument, one may need to buy the case
- Watch the video of detailed description and answers to the points above
Выбор дудука и о тональностях
Do not waste time
While waiting for the parcel with duduk, you can prepare yourself in advance by learning how to play it.
Интервью: Г.Минасов и Alexduduk
Performer's breathing
When playing the duduk, how important is it to inhale properly?
Before being able to extract the sound from the instrument, duduk player has to spend a lot of time figuring out the mechanics of inhale and exhale. If, instead, one jumps into trying to play the duduk right after first laying one's hands on it, one will encounter a lot of issues, such as not being able to control properly the mouth, fingers, throat.
How to develop breathing?
One has to develop breathing gradually:
first of all, practice the exercises designed to develop breathing.
Take a look at the following few important exercises.
first of all, practice the exercises designed to develop breathing.
Take a look at the following few important exercises.
Evenly and very calmly inhale through the nose and the corners of the mouth, then exhale through the mouth, while paying attention to the inspiratory and expiratory muscles. Repeat these beginner's exercises without the instrument daily, on a regular basis. When doing it, be
For example:
Duration of inhale - duration of exhale.
inhale on 2/4 – exhale on 4/4
inhale on 4/4/ - exhale on 2/4
inhale on 3/4 - exhale on 4/4
For example:
Duration of inhale - duration of exhale.
inhale on 2/4 – exhale on 4/4
inhale on 4/4/ - exhale on 2/4
inhale on 3/4 - exhale on 4/4
Inhale in the following way: having straightened the body, slightly bend to the front, shift body weight to one leg, push your elbows to the sides, while simultaneously inhaling the air through inflated nostrils and corners of the mouth.
At the same time the waist area expands and you can feel the workings of all the breathing system in the body from collarbone to the diaphragm.
Observe the tightening of back and side muscles, instrumental in supporting the breath. The further intake of breath continues by way of expanding the whole body's volume without raising the collarbones.
Then straighten the body and exhale.
On the exhale the rib cage should stop in the inspiratory position, it ensures smoothness and duration of the outbreath.
This exercise is repeated 3-4 times, no more than that, otherwise you might get dizzy. As later on you get used to this exercise, you can accordingly increase the number of repetitions.
At the same time the waist area expands and you can feel the workings of all the breathing system in the body from collarbone to the diaphragm.
Observe the tightening of back and side muscles, instrumental in supporting the breath. The further intake of breath continues by way of expanding the whole body's volume without raising the collarbones.
Then straighten the body and exhale.
On the exhale the rib cage should stop in the inspiratory position, it ensures smoothness and duration of the outbreath.
This exercise is repeated 3-4 times, no more than that, otherwise you might get dizzy. As later on you get used to this exercise, you can accordingly increase the number of repetitions.
Inhale quickly, then hold your breath while counting in your mind the eight quarters (that is, simply putting it – count to eight), and exhale slowly, also counting the eight quarters.
Inhale the long in-breath, counting the eight quarters, quickly exhale on one quarter, then hold your breath for the count of eight quarters.
Quickly inhale on the count of one quarter, hold your breath counting the eight quarters, then slowly exhale for eight quarters.
Each exercise is to be repeated few times. Later on, increase the count of quarters. Performing these exercises, sustain the slow tempo.
Inhale the long in-breath, counting the eight quarters, quickly exhale on one quarter, then hold your breath for the count of eight quarters.
Quickly inhale on the count of one quarter, hold your breath counting the eight quarters, then slowly exhale for eight quarters.
Each exercise is to be repeated few times. Later on, increase the count of quarters. Performing these exercises, sustain the slow tempo.
. In order to feel how your diaphragm works during the breathing, you can do the following exercise: lie on the even surface, take few heavier books, place them on a spot a bit lower than your solar plexus, extend your arms, put your hands at the sides of body, then slowly and calmly inhale through the nose, while simultaneously observing how the books on your belly move up. In this way you can feel well the workings of diaphragm.
Perform this exercise as long as you can breath smoothly with the even inhales and exhales, such that the books on your belly would go up and down in a smooth way, without any sharp movements.
Perform this exercise as long as you can breath smoothly with the even inhales and exhales, such that the books on your belly would go up and down in a smooth way, without any sharp movements.
The fingering on duduk
Duduk's fingering is the same for all the tonalities of instrument; only the scale differs.
Musical notes for duduk are written in one and the same way (for all tonalities), only the instrument's tune is indicated there; it makes easier to read and record the notes for duduk.
How the duduk is recorded in musical notation is shown here in the first photo. When the six upper-side holes and one rear upper hole are being closed, the note C is written down. Then, opening one by one the holes in sequence, we get the C major scale.
In the next photos there are the actual scales for duduk.
Musical notes for duduk are written in one and the same way (for all tonalities), only the instrument's tune is indicated there; it makes easier to read and record the notes for duduk.
How the duduk is recorded in musical notation is shown here in the first photo. When the six upper-side holes and one rear upper hole are being closed, the note C is written down. Then, opening one by one the holes in sequence, we get the C major scale.
In the next photos there are the actual scales for duduk.
Duduk
the terms of use
the terms of use
So, you got the parcel, you open it and the long-awaited instrument is in your hands.
What to do next?
What to do next?
If during the shipping the parcel was in the cold temperature, anywhere from +10C down to –20C (50F to -4F), having taken the instrument out of parcel, unwrap it, rub its' surface with the soft absorbent cloth to get rid of the condensed moisture, then place the instrument for 12 hours in the dark space with room temperature and the air flow, away from the sources of heat and sunlight.
You should not oil the new instrument. It is ready to be played and has been already oiled by the master maker when he was making it.
The mouthpiece reed (the so-called "Gamish" mouthpiece) has to be made ready for playing it. Take out the cap. If there is the minimal gap between the reed's "lips", simply blow into it for 7-10 min.; then move down the strap in such a way that it will not slip off and will not press the reed's walls (the gap between lips is about 1-2mm). That's it, now it is ready to be played.
If the reed is dried and the gap is tightly closed, pour inside of the reed 10-15 drops of warm water, then shake it, pour the water out, and let the reed stand in vertical position, with the gap - end down, for 15-20 min (for this leave the cap on the gap-end of reed). Afterwards, with the cap off, you can start working on producing the sound out of reed.
If the reed is dried and the gap is tightly closed, pour inside of the reed 10-15 drops of warm water, then shake it, pour the water out, and let the reed stand in vertical position, with the gap - end down, for 15-20 min (for this leave the cap on the gap-end of reed). Afterwards, with the cap off, you can start working on producing the sound out of reed.
Initially, every instrument has to be "gotten used" to the new owner, and the owner has to get used to the new instrument by playing it. One has to play the new duduk for 10-15 min few times a day, with the break of an hour or more between the sessions. During the breaks take the reed out of duduk and let all the parts of instrument to dry. Playing the duduk, do not overstrain your mouth and lips - train them gradually.
IMPORTANT if you are in the region of higher humidity: play in the above-mentioned mode for 1-2 weeks – it will prevent your instrument from getting too much humidity soaked into it. In those 1-2 weeks of it being played in such a mode, the pores of the wood will seal in. After that you will be able to play your instrument as much as your heart desires and as much as your - and reed's! - stamina will allow.
Do not rub the internal duct (channel) of duduk.
Do not place the rag or paper inside of duduk's channel (they can get stuck there; trying to get them out, you can injure the instrument).
Do not place the rag or paper inside of duduk's channel (they can get stuck there; trying to get them out, you can injure the instrument).
When the duduk is being played on, the reed gets wet. Do not pinch the reed too much with the strap, lest you break it. Let the reed rest often, so that the moisture will vaporize from reed's walls.
Storage of the instrument, when you are not playing the duduk (for example when taking a break):
put a cap on reed, release the strap, take the reed out of tube, and place instrument in a well-ventilated room, away from the heat, sun and pets.
Storage of the reed:
do not store it in plastic bags, in plastic or metal boxes which do not let the air in, otherwise the reed might swell and rot. If you are to use such a box, drill some holes on different sides of it so that the moisture will evaporate from the reed.
put a cap on reed, release the strap, take the reed out of tube, and place instrument in a well-ventilated room, away from the heat, sun and pets.
Storage of the reed:
do not store it in plastic bags, in plastic or metal boxes which do not let the air in, otherwise the reed might swell and rot. If you are to use such a box, drill some holes on different sides of it so that the moisture will evaporate from the reed.
Step by step
training to play
the duduk
training to play
the duduk
For the beginner duduk player it is very important to learn how to play it in a correct way.
In the following videos I will explain in detail, and will show you, what the beginner has to do.
Have fun watching those videos and may they be useful to you.
In the following videos I will explain in detail, and will show you, what the beginner has to do.
Have fun watching those videos and may they be useful to you.
Duduk lessons online
To learn in a most efficient way how to play duduk, sign up for a private lesson with the duduk teacher
lesson №1
Preparing reeds for play
lesson №2
How to properly hold a duduk.
What you need to do for a comfortable play
What you need to do for a comfortable play
Lesson №3
Your first sound
lesson №4
Next step, expand the range
lesson №5
Fingers
Your freedom and ease of play depends on how they work.
Your freedom and ease of play depends on how they work.
Embouchure
Do you want to sound juicy, gentle, easy?
By working on the ear cushions, you can find your sound.
The main thing is the basis!
By working on the ear cushions, you can find your sound.
The main thing is the basis!
Articulation
This is what will help you highlight the musical idea.
Finger technique
Give yourself creative freedom.
Halftone
The most painstaking work. The technique of halftones is complex.
BUT! BEAUTIFUL
Expands Your Possibilities.
BUT! BEAUTIFUL
Expands Your Possibilities.
High case
The most difficult thing for any performer.
The purity and beauty of the performance of this register will enchant even the most sophisticated listener.
The purity and beauty of the performance of this register will enchant even the most sophisticated listener.
vibrato
The most difficult thing for any performer.
The purity and beauty of the performance of this register will enchant even the most sophisticated listener.
The purity and beauty of the performance of this register will enchant even the most sophisticated listener.
