This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Joe Schultz talks about the worlds oldest wind instrument, the Didgeridoo. The didgeridoo's history, cultural context, technique, and music is briefly discussed, followed by two contrasting performances.
My name is Joe Schultz, and I am a dedicated Didgeridoo player. I was introduced to the didgeridoo by my father around the age of 7. One day he received a mysterious package in the mail. He opened it up, and out came this beautiful piece of wood. It was a tube covered in tribal painting, and a beeswax mouthpiece on one end. My father played one note, and my life was never the same. Growing up in Long Island, in the town of Westbury, I learned the basic techniques on a didgeridoo made out of PVC pipe. Although the instrument was less than desirable, it was something to play. With practice I got off to a good start, and realized It was something that I had a natural inclination for.
Several years later my parents got divorced, and I moved to Westchester, NY, where I reside today. There was a period of time when I did not play the didgeridoo all that much, because i was no longer motivated by my father. It wasn’t until I had a very profound experience in Nashville, TN that I rediscovered my passion for this instrument. At Victor Wootens Music and Nature camp, I was inspired by the musicians who could express themselves so beautifully on multiple instruments. Inspired to find my own voice, I followed the path that brought me back to the didgeridoo. At the age of 14, I began playing open mics, and giving performances around Westchester county. In my experience performing I discovered how few people had actually ever been in contact with a didgeridoo. This really inspired me to make my musical journey less about spreading my own music, and more about spreading the music of the didgeridoo itself, which is extremely unique and beautiful in its own right.
Today I am a junior in Stony Brook studying economics and music. I play over 10 instruments, and give didgeridoo lessons to several students. In the future, I hope to continue my activity in the didgeridoo community by crafting and selling these beautiful instruments.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)