Didgeridoo Lessons with Didge Project
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The 10 Best Online Platforms to Promote Your Music

By
Guest Author
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1
best-online-platforms-to-promote-your-music

Do you want to get your music heard by more people? Do you want to sell more downloads and merchandise and have larger audiences at your shows? A sound strategy to promote your music online appears to be the key for many independent artists these days.

In the old music promotion model, artists would spend hours (days even), creating a mixtape, preparing for one shot with a record label. Music promotion has now transformed into a place where the artists can put in their own work to build a following across a variety of platforms.

Despite the many tools available to artists, it’s still just as hard to get noticed by record labels and most turn to self-publishing to make sure their music is released. To get a leg up, here we share some of the best online platforms to promote your music, giving you a very real shot at your chance in the limelight.

1. Promote Your Music With Your Own Musician’s Website

The first thing you’ll want to do is to create your own website. This is really easy to do using websites such as Wix Music or WordPress. This should be the hub to where you direct all your listeners, no matter what platforms you’re promoting on, so they can have all the up-to-date information they need, as well as a chance to buy your music.

 

2. Promote Your Music On Your Musician’s Blog

Hand in hand with the point above, start a blog about your upcoming and ready-to-boom music career. All you’ll need to do is write about your music life, the things you’re up to and just get people to follow your journey. The more followers you have on your blog, the more people will know about you as an artist and the music you create.

 

3. Promote Your Music on Social Media Platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

This is such an essential part of success these days. Whether you’re sharing your blog posts, your website, your music or even your music videos, it’s essential that you have some form of social media account.

Some of the best include Facebook and Instagram, but you may want to consider platforms like Snapchat and Twitter. This will probably be the most popular way for you to connect with your audience and fans.

 

4. Promote Your Music on Online Radio platforms such as Last.fm and Pandora

You may think online radio is dead, but it’s far from it. Websites and platforms such as Last.fm and Pandora, are more popular than ever before and it’s a great place to get your music played and out there to audiences that you might not have been able to reach in the past.

 

 

 

5. Promote Your Music on YouTube

YouTube is a must, and I simply can’t stress enough how important it will be for you to get your music on the platform for the masses. Despite all the live streaming services that are available, YouTube is still the number one music streaming website on the internet.

This is such a beneficial website since new users will be able to find your music and it’s also a great place to host your music so it can be shared by your existing fans effortlessly. Make sure to add tags to your uploads based on relevant keywords that people search for.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlxqk0iHp5w

 

6. Get Your Music Featured on Other Blogs

Research all the music blogs that relate to your genre. Then, contact them and send them a copy of your demo. If the blog likes your music, they may choose to feature you on their blog. The more followers your chosen blog has, the more people that are going to be aware of your music.

This is a very popular method among musicians and some of the leading blogs may receive countless demo tapes every day so it may take a while for them to get back to you, if at all. Just make sure that your original message is compelling and makes blog owners say ‘wow’. Make sure that the blogs you reach out to are relevant to your genre and audience.

7. Promote Your Music on SoundCloud

SoundCloud is another one of the biggest music streaming websites and is a great place to host your music and get it found by fans who are looking for musicians like you. It’s free to set up an account with premium options available for an increased download limit and higher visibility on the website.

The website holds a very large online community and is used by internet users and music lovers from around the world, making it a great way to get your foot in the door.

 

 

8. Promote Your Music (and sell it) on Bandcamp

Bandcamp is a unique music-based website that can help you to convert listeners into dedicated fans. There are two features in total that can help you boost your music career. Firstly, there’s the plain and simple feature of being able to upload your albums and music tracks for either a free download or a paid download.

Secondly, you’ll also be able to build your mailing list in exchange for a free download. This can help you stay in contact with fans of your music while promoting extra content for them to download and enjoy in the future.

 

9. Promote Your Music on on Streaming Music Services such as Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal

There are a TON of online music streaming websites online. Some of the biggest include Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music, among many others. If your music is granted access to be played on these websites and services, you’ll be able to earn royalties from each play, and you’ll also be able to advertise your tours. But how do you get your music on these services? Digital Distribution Services (see below)!

 

10. Promote Your Music Using Digital Distribution Services such as CDBaby and Tunecore

One of the most effective yet overlooked ways of getting your music into the mainstream is by uploading it to digital distribution services. Nowadays, the majority of people will listen to their music through music streaming services, some of the most popular being iTunes, Spotify and Amazon. To have the ability to promote your music on these platforms can help you to gain fans from all over the world. Using digital distribution services such as TuneCore and CD Baby, you’ll be able to upload your tracks to over 150 music streaming services, all using a price limit and package that matches your budget. You may even make some money if your tracks get popular on these platforms. These services, in particular, are free to sign up and you only have to pay for the services that you’ll use.

 

Question of the Day

In your experience, what are the best online platforms to promote your music? What has worked for you and what hasn’t? Leave your response in the comments section below.

 

Author Bio

Rachel Summers has been a social media manager for seven years, working for a variety of companies, both big and small, including Revieweal, a leading custom writing service. In her freetime, Rachel also helps and advises a variety of small businesses and start-ups on their social media strategies.

 

Beginning Handpan Rhythms with Master Craftsman and Performer Rafael D’Arco of Tacta Handpans

By
AJ Block
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0

In this handpan lesson, Tacta Handpans founder and chief craftsman Rafael D’Arco shares how to play beautiful arpeggios and scales. By learning these 3-beat patterns, you will be able to play in the relaxed meditative style heard at the beginning of this video.

What is an arpeggio?

An arpeggio is a sequence of notes, which describe a chord, played in ascending or descending order, one note at a time.

What is a chord?

A chord is a combination of notes, played simultaneously, which defines a specific harmony. Commonly seen and referenced are the major, minor and dominant chords. Other commonly seen chords in western music include diminished, half-diminished, suspended and augmented chords.

Tacta Handpans are professional quality instruments made by Brazilian craftsman Rafael D’Arco. The sensitivity to the touch and amazing overtones make Tacta handpans some of the best handpans around. Tacta Handpans are made from stainless steel, as opposed to nitrided steel that other makers use. These stainless steel instruments are generally equally or more resonant than those made of nitrided steel and they have a longer sustain (the notes ring out for a longer period of time). All Tacta Handpans come in the gold/brass color seen here in the video.

***Purchase a Tacta Handpan here

The Tacta Handpan model used in this video: E SaByeD 8 + 3 – (G#) A B C# D# E F# G# B (D#) (E)

 

About the handpan or “hang”

The handpan or “hang” is a convex steel drum played with the hands and tuned with multiple notes. Each handpan is tuned to a particular scale such as major, natural minor, harmonic minor, hijaz, mixolydian, etc. Sonically the handpan is an overtone-emitting instrument that has the capacity to create many layers of sound and ethereal effects and works very well with drone instruments. Originally called the hang (pronounced “hah-ng”) the handpan was invented in 2001 by a little company in Switzerland.

About Rafael D’Arco and Tacta Handpans

Rafael D’Arco is the maker of Tacta Handpans and discovered, through his own will, the process of crafting, tuning and distributing high quality steel pan instruments. A pianist and percussionist, Rafael started by making a Tongue Drum out of an empty propane tank. His success stimulated him to move forward, researching and studying more about handpan production. A shell made out of a small antenna dish template was used for his next creation, but the type of metal spinning used to form the shell ended up producing a poor sound quality for the instrument. A long pause followed, and the project was temporarily abandoned, for a few years. In 2015, D’Arco set up his workshop and developed the tooling required to cut, shape and tune the steel sheets, turning them into proper handpans. It was a year of research, involving travel abroad and meeting with other makers, and which would eventually lead to the refinement of most steps in the production chain, optimizing and speeding up production.

Did you like this handpan lesson?

If so, please give us your feedback in the comments section below. We are also happy to answer your questions and support you in playing beautiful music!

How To Play Didgeridoo Rhythms in 3 and 6 Beat Cycles (3/4 and 6/8 Time Signatures)

By
AJ Block
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0

Playing didgeridoo in repeating cycles of 3 or 6 beats creates some unique rhythmic opportunities. By learning these cycles, you will have a lot more options to play with, especially when you begin to combine them with other didgeridoo sounds, as you will see in this video.

Many trained musicians refer to 3 and 6 beat cycles as the time signatures of 3/4 and 6/8. Other less common time signatures include 6/4 and you could even group 12/8 into this family of time signatures.

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*Free Download: World Rhythms for Didgeridoo, 45-minute intermediate level course: https://www.didgeproject.com/worldrhythmsclass/

*Free Download: Didgeridoo Fundamentals, 45-minute beginners course: https://www.didgeproject.com/didgeridoo-fundamentals/

*Purchase the Didge For Sleep DVD, Handbook and Travel Didgeridoo at https://www.didgeproject.com/store

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More Didgeridoo Rhythm Tutorial Videos:

A Popular Didgeridoo Rhythm and How To Play It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbTXAcqQSpY

Didgeridoo Tongue Rhythms: https://youtu.be/jlcgPovTvzs

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Beginning Didgeridoo Tutorials:

How To Play Didgeridoo for Absolute Beginners: https://www.didgeproject.com/didgeridoo-lessons/how-to-play-didgeridoo-for-absolute-beginners/

Learn To Circular Breathe on Didgeridoo by Developing The Abs, Cheeks and Jaw Muscles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuyV_2I2o6g

Live Didgeridoo Q&A #1 addressed circular breathing, choosing a didgeridoo, composing, layering sounds and more! (full video recording)

By
AJ Block
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0

In this open question and answer session AJ Block took questions on didgeridoo-related topics. Recorded with a live online audience on November 18, 2017.

Questions asked in this session:
01:59 What are the keys of didgeridoo most used by professionals?
04:44 What are your favorite materials used in making didgeridoos?
07:00 I have a small mouth and find it difficult to get my lips vibrating. I tried resizing the wax but its not helping much.
13:06 When I circular breathe I seem to end up with more air than less air. How do I regulate this so I don’t end up with full lungs?
25:19 Please discuss Bounce Breath if you get the chance. I’ve seen many videos that seem to be conflicting on what it is.
29:44 Is there any way to find out how old my didgeridoo is and what wood its made of?
30:56 How do you manage spitting saliva while playing?
34:33 If you can’t circular breathe is there any way to incorporate the lack of it into your playing?
38:01 If I’m a drummer but am very interested in world styles of music would a didge be a wise choice to buy?
42:00 What meditation rhythm is your favorite? 45:12 If you are a drummer, can you make beats with your hands on the didgeridoo?
47:03 Can very young kids play didgeridoo?
51:48 Do you write down your didgeridoo songs and if so how? 54:48 What is the best website for affordable didgeridoos? 55:06 Do you do yoga?
57:37 How do you layer sounds on the didgeridoo?
01:01:31 Is there a connection to the size and shape of the mouthpiece and ease of playing?
01:05:02 How many didgeridoos do you own?
01:06:08 Can I come visit your store in NYC?
01:06:54 What are your thoughts on combining didgeridoos, played in parallel by different players, to make an interesting piece?
01:13:27 Will you be doing more of these
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?
01:14:13 If you have a plastic didgeridoo, does it affect the amount you can do? I have a plastic didgeridoo and I have difficulty doing the things in the lessons.
01:16:31 Big bell didgeridoos are always so enticing. Does the bell add anything different sound-wise, or is it more for looks?
01:18:00 Composing: how do you create songs?
01:18:55 How do you play trumpet sounds?
Videos mentioned in this live Q&A:

Tacta Handpans Now Available in 14 Different Scales!

By
AJ Block
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0
tacta-handpan-x4-didge-project-bright

The stainless steel Tacta Handpan is one of the most resonant metal drums we have seen. Each instrument is handcrafted by Brazilian craftsman Rafael D’Arco. The sensitivity to the touch and amazing overtones make Tacta handpans some of the best handpans around.

 

Tongue Rhythms for Didgeridoo

By
AJ Block
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1

In this video we reveal the tongue rhythms for didgeridoo that will give you more playing options as you explore the instrument. Once you learn the different tongue sounds, you can start adding your voice to create an additional layer of sound and open up infinite possibilities. Our main goal with this didgeridoo lesson is to make your playing more interesting and keep you engaged in the practice.

What are tongue rhythms?

Tongue rhythms are patterns or sequences that utilize the different sound effects that the tongue makes on the didgeridoo sound (also relevant to other wind instruments, jaw harps, throat singing and overtone singing.

***Question: What didgeridoo rhythms do you already play that you would like to improve upon? Post your response in the comments section below. We will be using your answers to create new didgeridoo rhythm tutorial videos and help you expand upon your playing.

This video comes from the Didge For Sleep DVD:

What is Didge For Sleep?

Playing didgeridoo is clinically shown to help people with sleep apnea. Didge For Sleep provides the tools you need for effective relief from sleep apnea and snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea and snoring are conditions caused primarily by a blockage in the throat. When the person is sleeping, air tries to get from the mouth or nose into the lungs through the throat’s air passageway, also known as the windpipe. When the windpipe becomes fully obstructed this creates an apnea, or a stoppage in the breath. When the windpipe is partially obstructed, a vibration is created which manifests as snoring, which manifests as snoring, an extremely common issue. Fortunately, playing the didgeridoo can help.

In 2006, the British Medical Journal reported a study that compared two groups of patients with moderate sleep apnea: one group that practiced 6 days a week for 25 minutes and another group which did not play didgeridoo. They found that the group that practiced didgeridoo had a significant decrease in their snoring and great improvement in their sleep apnea. Read the full report.

What makes playing the didgeridoo so effective in improving quality of sleep is the process of toning the muscles in the throat and tongue. Just as a person goes to the gym to lift weights, we go to the didgeridoo practice to strengthen our physical bodies. Similar to weightlifting, there are exercises and activities that must be repeated, and Didge For Sleep provides you with all the foundations needed to build your didgeridoo muscles. Throughout your training, you will be strengthening the muscles in your throat, face, lips, jaw, cheeks, abdominals, and your entire respiratory system. This improves the muscle mass to fat ratio, reduces body fat in the throat and tongue, and provides you with a lower chance of windpipe obstruction and thus, a better night’s sleep. This improvement in sleep quality has now been documented in hundreds of cases.

Purchase the Didge For Sleep DVD, Handbook and Travel Didgeridoo at the Didge Project store.

What Are The Best Ways To Use a Metronome? – Video feat. Metronome Online Screen Capture

By
AJ Block
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1

I used to have horrible rhythm. I mean horrible. I could barely clap on the beat and dancing was an embarrassing affair. Throughout this period I was playing trombone and my music teachers, specifically Kevin Bradley, Greg Miller, Jon Nathan and Tyler Sussman, had been encouraging me to practice with a metronome. The best ways to use a metronome, I learned, are really just simple tricks that can be used to enhance your musical skill.

Whether you are a singer, instrumentalist, drummer or all of the above, using a metronome is going to make your rhythm stronger and help you develop your internal musical clock. I learned that when practicing with a metronome, not every note you play needs to fall on a click. In fact, practicing by playing with metronome beats in unconventional placement was highly beneficial to my practice. Then I learned one of the absolute best ways to use a metronome for jazz musicians: placing the click on beats 2 and 4 only.

In this video I show how to place the clicks on beats 2 and 4 with a swing rhythm on Billy Joel’s “The Longest Time,” which I rehearsed in depth to perform at my wedding where I surprised my wife with 7 friends. I also show you two other tips: how to learn to play any phrase you are rehearsing faster and how to learn to properly play syncopated rhythms.

In this video I’m using metronome online. I love metronome online because you don’t need to download any software or apps, you simply go to http://metronomeonline.com and it runs right in the browser. You will see that I used a screen capture to record my use of the metronome in real time.

 

What are some of the best ways to use a metronome that you’ve found? Post your response in the comments section below and feel free to write any questions or feedback.

Thanks so much!

Subscribe to Didge Project on YouTube for more great video tutorials.

How To Play RAV Drum For Absolute Beginners

By
Matt Bazgier
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If you are new to RAV Drum or handpan, or maybe you just want to improve your skills, learning some of the basic techniques in this video, How To Play RAV Drum for Absolute Beginners, will help you. The RAV Drum (aka RAV Vast) is a metal tongue drum instrument that is played similar to a handpan or hang.

The first thing to learn about percussion instruments is that you need to let your hand bounce off the instrument in order for it to resonate. If you make contact but do not remove your hand, the vibration will be dulled. By making sure that your hands are bouncing off the instrument, the tongues (RAV) or tone fields (handpan) will be able to vibrate unhindered. You will see a tip in this video where Matt shows how he starts pulling his hand away from the instrument a split second before he even makes contact.

Rav Vast G Minor Hand Pan Hand For Sale In Drum New York United States Jersey Connecticut Massachutsetts play rav drum
Buy a RAV Drum

There are two types of beginning RAV drum strokes we look at in this video: a soft sound and a slap sound. To get the soft sound, you need to have your finger loose, perpendicular to the drum. Matt uses his middle finger but a lot of players use their index finger. This is all personal preference. The second stroke we explore is the slap sound, which is more percussive and uses the pads of the fingers (long sides). The slap is used when a louder sound is desired.

There are a number of patterns useful for beginners shown in this video. We highly suggest practicing going up and down the scale of your instrument. This is an indispensable exercise for melodic RAV drum playing. Then there are many more patterns you can play with, two or three of which are shown in this video.

Of course, one of the most important things to consider when you play RAV Drum is to have fun. These techniques are a starting point for you to find what moves you on the instrument. Practice these techniques and then take some time to creatively explore the instrument. You can practice playing notes in random order, or making up your own patterns that go up and down the scale. An example would be 3 up, 1 down, 3 up, 1 down, etc.: play the scale ascending from the bottom, first the 3 lowest notes, then down one, then the next 3 notes up, etc. In number order (with 1 being the lowest note), it would look like this: 1 2 3, 2 3 4, 3 4 5, 4 5 6, etc.

Question of the day: Where do you want to take your RAV Drum playing? What do you want to learn? Do you see yourself collaborating with others and/or using the instrument for meditative purposes? Write your answer in the comment section below.

Yucca Didgeridoo Comparison: 7 Instruments by Myke Gomezmaicas

By
AJ Block
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0

SALE THIS WEEK ONLY: 20% off all didgeridoos in the Didge Project store through Sunday, Oct. 8! Go to https://www.didgeproject.com/store and use coupon code: Oct2017discountZ

These 7 yucca didgeridoos may all look similar, but each one plays totally different has a unique resulting sound. In this video we play the same rhythm on each one so you can see how they compare. All 7 of these instruments were crafted by Myke Gomezmaicas​ in California. We have been working with Myke for many years now and selling his instruments because his craftsmanship is of the highest quality. These are epoxy-coated yucca didgeridoos with custom fitted wooden mouthpieces. You will notice in the video that some of the mouthpieces flare outward while some flare inward. The main difference we have found is that the wider mouthpieces that flare out are better for side players and the thinner mouthpieces are better for straight players. That being said, it is all based on personal preference and you may find your own unique way to play. Check out the difference between each one in the video.

Purchase here: https://www.didgeproject.com/product/yucca-didgeridoo-by-myke-gomezmaicas/

Question of the day: What are the features you like on the didgeridoos that you play? Do you like them longer or shorter? Do you like them so they play good toots? Do you like them where the vocals can come through? What is your ideal didgeridoo? Share your response in the comments section below. I’m excited to hear what you like to play on.

 

Dimensions of the yucca didgeridoos featured in this video:

Yucca 701
Length: 59″
Bell Diameter: 3 1/2″
Mouthpiece Inner Diameter: 1 1/4″
Mouthpiece Outer Diameter: 2″
Drone Key: C

Yucca 702
Length: 60 1/2″
Bell Diameter: 3 1/2″
Mouthpiece Inner Diameter: 1 1/8″
Mouthpiece Outer Diameter: 2″
Drone Key: C#
Trumpet Key: E

Yucca 703
Length: 52 3/4″
Bell Diameter: 2 7/8″
Mouthpiece Inner Diameter: 1 1/4″
Mouthpiece Outer Diameter: 2 1/4″
Drone Key: D#
Trumpet Key: F

Yucca 704
Length: 61 3/4″
Bell Diameter: 3 5/8″
Mouthpiece Inner Diameter: 1 1/4″
Mouthpiece Outer Diameter: 2 1/8″
Drone Key: C#
Trumpet Key: E

Yucca 705
Length: 56 3/8″
Bell Diameter: 3 1/4″
Mouthpiece Inner Diameter: 1 1/4″
Mouthpiece Outer Diameter: 2″
Drone Key: D
Trumpet Key: F

Yucca 706
Length: 64 1/2″
Bell Diameter: 3 1/8″
Mouthpiece Inner Diameter: 1 1/4″
Mouthpiece Outer Diameter: 2 3/8″
Drone Key: C
Trumpet Key: E

Yucca 707
Length: 60 3/4″
Bell Diameter: 3 3/8″
Mouthpiece Outer Diameter: 1 1/4″
2 1/4″
Drone Key: D
Trumpet Key: F

What is the best budget travel didgeridoo?

By
AJ Block
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0

One of the biggest issues for didgeridoo players is how to travel with their instruments. Most people who play didgeridoo for sleep apnea are not willing to carry a 5 foot instrument on a plane. Travel with a full size didgeridoo can be a hassle, especially if you are going somewhere to play purely for yourself. By having a light-weight collapsible travel didgeridoo in a compact bag, you are free to move around effortlessly. The 4-piece instrument sold in the Didge Project store is one of the best budget travel didgeridoos available.

travel-didgeridoo-case-with-didgeridoo-player
Purchase The 4-Piece Travel Didgeridoo Here

This travel didgeridoo screws apart into 4 pieces that nest together for easy, compact carrying. It features adjustable lengths that allow you to play in 4 different keys (D, D#, E, or F), and comes with a no fuss silicone mouthpiece. It also comes with a durable fabric carrying case, making it simple to bring your didgeridoo with you wherever you go.

Best of all, this travel didgeridoo sounds fantastic and is perfect for beginners. We highly recommend this instrument for its versatility of notes, playable in 4 different keys. The sound is also loud and clear thanks to its tapered shape. Don’t be limited by size: once you get a travel didge you can take your instrument wherever you go!

Didge For Sleep is a learn to play didgeridoo method designed specifically for people with sleep apnea, snoring, Upper airway resistance syndrome, and other sleep -breathing conditions.

When you sign up for Didge For Sleep, you will receive this travel didgeridoo, our instructional handbook and DVD, plus access to our online member forum where you can find over 10 hours of bonus tutorial videos and a forum where you can talk with other people using the didgeridoo to get better rest at night.

Packed dimensions in bag: 22″ x 6″ x 6″.
Assembled dimensions: 5′ with 4.5″ bell and 1.5″ mouthpiece.

Hear how playing didgeridoo has helped people with Sleep Apnea:

Purchase the full Didge For Sleep introductory package now.

Purchase the 4-piece travel didgeridoo here.

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