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Copyright © 2005-2009 Mark Holdaway |
If you have a testimonial about the kalimba or kalimba music and what it has done for your life, please share it with me! We are very pleased with the quality of both kalimbas; their sounds are very beautiful. Robert enjoys them for hours at a time. We will always recommend you to anyone interested in kalimbas for the quality of the instruments as well as for the excellent customer service. Julieta, 2009 Thank you so much for the wonderful alto pentatonic kalimba you recently sent me. I'm enjoying it immensely, as is my wife who enjoys listening to me play it! I'm taking it and my alto 17 note on vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina on vacation at the end of the week. Your kalimbas travel far and wide! Thanks again. Tom, 2009 Hi, I had received an eight-note Hugh Tracy Kalimba, two wicker shakers, and a Uhadi from this website for my birthday last week. The products arrived a day after my birthday, which is perfectly understandable since my people ordered them late, and you gave me one of your CDs (Two Thumbs Up) for free to compensate for lost time. You also provided detailed instructions on how to assemble the Uhadi, and a phone number to call just in case I couldn't figure it out. In my four or so years of ordering on the Internet, I have not received such kindness before. I had no problems figuring out the Uhadi from the instructions (and watching a Youtube video that you posted). Much like yourself, I am a multi-instrumentalist. I play electric guitar, acoustic guitar, classical guitar, mandolin, banjo, bongos, harmonica, acoustic bass, djembe, and now I have added the Kalimba and Uhadi to my repertoire. Within an hour of opening the box, I had composed a (simple) song with the Kalimba, and I'm in the process of writing and recording the other instruments (I'd be more than happy to send my recordings to you once they are done, if you are interested). Meanwhile, I keep learning and making more complex songs on the Kalimba with your guidance on the website and listening to your CD. It's a very great instrument... There's just so much you can do with it! And it seems to follow you. When I'm cooking, it's sitting there on my counter. When I lay down to go to sleep, it's by my pillow. You can bring it literally everywhere. The Uhadi was very difficult to tame, but after you get used to it, it becomes a great instrument. I wouldn't use it in every song, but it's great for some nice background noises. There's a woman named Madosini who is famous for playing the Uhadi. You can find a lot of her music on Youtube. I know you were looking for more information on the instrument, and I think that's the best way to get it. The shakers are solid... Perfect for what I needed. I had a shaker before that sounded horrible when being recorded. These are very good for recording. Two Thumbs Up is absolutely incredible. I'm your usual stressed out college kid, taking 18 credits, working 20-25 hours a week at a crummy job, trying to find as much time as possible to use for music, and this CD completely calms me down in those hard times, and helps me focus when writing papers and doing other work. Your blend of the Kalimba with popular instruments is very inspiring, musically. It has also opened my eyes to the power of the recorder. Perhaps I'll look into that next. This got a little long... I apologize for that. I just wanted to show as much gratitude as possible. You have very much helped me in my musical journey, and I look forward to doing business with your shop in future. You deserve more recognition than you have. Thank you, Thank you so much - you are too kind, too generous. I am absolutely thrilled to have the new Kalimba. I took it out of the box and I immediately played up and down the scale -- the sound is so beautiful and the tone very "tender". I noticed too that the box feels very balanced and sure in my hands. What a joy to have this beautiful instrument. Again, thank you -for the Kalimba and for your lovely note. Michelle, 2009 "THANK YOU, by the way! The kalimba (aka, "chum-ba" as [2 year old] Noah calls it) is a hit! Its arrival - or its discovery - was perfect timing. We were in desperate need of something new and fascinating (and calming) to entertain us...ahem, Noah. ;) What a nice treat. Tra-la-la, to be sure." Susan's niece, 2009 Heya, Mark! my friend Alexander gave me this magic box! it sounds great, can't stop playing! thank you! Kato, 2009 Mark, I received my Kalimba Today!! I haven't been able to put it down. Except when my professor shot me a dirty look in my lab.. But besides that it has been exciting and beautiful all at the same time. Thankyou very much. I look forward to future business with you. Sean, 2009 I have received the kalimbas this afternoon and I have been playing them for a few hours completely fascinated! They have an "hipnotizing" sweet sound, even more magic when you are playing them... Jordi, 2009 Just received my first Kalimba today. What an incredible instrument! I'm 59 years old and think I have finally found what I have been looking for in music. Thanks! Dan, 2009 I do like [the kalimba's] sound. It's like I listen to the sound of ocean or the sound of breeze in the mountain. It's very peaceful. Pom, 2009 The 8-note Catania Kalimba has arrived and it's already at my home. We really love it a lot!! (yes, my girlfriend has been surprised with its so beauty sound and so far she's practising more than me!) Tomas, 2009 I received my Hugh Tracey alto kalimba today. What great service. Really fast. I'm completely new to the kalimba, but I have to tell you I love it. Fantastic sound. I'm glad I got your book to go with it. The tab is easy to understand and I have not put the kalimba down. The only problem I foresee is getting my left and right hands doing two different things at the same time, but I'm determined to get good. Thank you also for including the extra CD. I've checked out all your you tube videos and all I can say is wow! Thank you again, and I'm sure I'll be ordering some more goodies in the near future. Mike, 2009 Wow! I ordered my kalimba Sat and I received it today-Monday. I didn't think you would get it out until Monday at the earliest. Thank you so much, Mark. Best, fastest service I've ever experienced. I love the kalimba--the solid wood suits my needs perfectly. Beautiful tone. I also love your passion for this instrument. Your website is excellent, and I will continue exploring all the info you have so generously put on it. I wish you continued great success in your life's work with this instrument, and expect to be ordering more items from you in the future. Schim, 2009 My goal in buying the kalimba for my granddaughter was for her to use it in meditation. I am enjoying my own kalimba very much. I play it upon awakening and before going to bed and throughout the day as much as possible (breaks in my work and study schedule). I have absolutely no music training but find that the Kalimba allows my soul to express beautiful music. I am delighted : )! Thank you very much you are making the world a more beautiful place. I think I can hear a bit of Bach's "Jesus Joy of Man's Desiring" when I meditate with it. I am going to try to pick it out by ear. It is like a beautiful sound puzzle : )! Thank you again : )! Best thoughts, I have recently received a 17-note Celeste Treble Kalimba from you and I would just like to say how very pleased I am with it. It sounds and feels wonderful and the inclusion of a pickup allows me to directly record my playing to computer. The hand-written note was a very nice touch, it is nice to know that people were actively involved in the process and adds a personal feel to the whole thing. I will have many hours of enjoyment with this instrument. Ben, 2009 I just had a look at your video of First Look Inside. Really love that piece. Inspiring. I'm just finishing off a music project and then I'll have some time to explore those magical sounds for myself. Peace, Thanks for the link. I found this really useful, especially your approach to composition. Also I found the CD yesterday. Sweet sounds. Andre, 2009 Last year I purchased a chromatic Kalimba from you and it has changed my life. I have been waiting for this instrument for 30 years. The instrument that I am ordering now will be for a friend, and the tines for some Kalimbas that I am designing. I would love to speak to you about selling Kalimbas on a new web site that I am building. I am a full-time musician playing mostly steel drum and guitar. when we spoke last year I was in Phoenix, but am now back in San Diego. I will try to contact you at your number in Tucson. Thanks for the inspiration. Tom 2009 I love your website. I've learned more about Kalimbas by starting there than I would have imagined. So far, the coolest thing I've learned is that I was recently gifted a vintage Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba. I suspected that it was... and then I found on your website the description of the 5 bicycle spoke hardware and baby blue tines and *knew* it was. Way cool. I very much appreciate the time you have taken to make your website a resource in addition to a portal for purchasing. You Rock! Aloha, My Alto Kalimba has arrived safe and sound in Wales. Picked it up from the Post Office depot this afternoon. It's entrancing and I'm hooked already. Your CD is just beautiful too and a rich and rewarding musical journey. It's truly inspirational. I can't thank you enough. As we say in Welsh: Diolch o galon - thanks from the heart! Regards and best wishes, Thank you very much for the extra shipment of the Christmas carols book. I must say that your training books are very easy to follow. I'm now learning in order to play live during my wife's story and puppets acting. I'm also playing drums and African percussion (Djembe, etc.). Please have a look to our web sites www.doigtssots.be and www.terre-et-mere.be. Cheers, I just received my Alto Kalimba, and I have to say, I am very happy with this great sounding instrument ! I make a living scoring for TV, cartoons, documentaries and films, and this Kalimba will find some place within my workflow and will light my inspiration for some beautiful tracks. Thanks again for a great buying experience. Best, I received the Alto Kalimba with pickup. It's incredible how it sounds. I play in a band of Afrikan percussion here in Spain and now I can play the Kalimba too!!!! Great Job. Thank You. I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that I have really been enjoying my kalimba. I have been playing guitar for about 15 years but also play a variety of other instruments. I got interested in the kalimba when Bela Fleck came into town with his Africa Project tour. He had Anania Ngoglia touring with him and he was playing a custom made dual kalimba. It was inspiring to hear him play. It sounded like a whole band... Simply amazing. I currently have an alto box kalimba with a pickup but wanted to ask you about a chromatic kalimba. Would you recommend a box or celeste chromatic kalimba? Also, coming from guitar, what tuning would you recommend. I have a tome of ideas on how to incorporate the kalimba into my music but think I really need to have the flexiblity of having access to all the chromatic notes. Thank you in advance for you guidance. It's more beautiful than I would have ever thought. I go to the University of Pittsburgh as a Mathematics Major. Today, I walked around the city playing my karimba. Everyone enjoyed and asked me what it was and thought that it was really neat. Ah Joy! Adam, 2009 Feedback re the Kalimba Doctor service: We received the Kalimba, and it is simply marvelous. My partner was so thrilled to see it he had to temper his enthusiasm, since the last time he was able to play one, he made his thumbs really sore. Here's his quote: "It's nice to have an old friend back!" Here is mine:"Mark Holdaway's Kalimba Doctor took our cracked and rusty instrument, and returned it to a beautiful, resonant music-maker. Thanks, Mark, for your quick, effective and friendly service!" Jude, 2009 There's something about the kalimba, at least in Holdaway's hands, that creates the feel of a sacred moment without disturbing the everyday. It's a flexible meditation perfect for a family dinner or a nightmare commute. Two Thumbs Up is soothing on a bad day, uplifting on a good day, and just plain beautiful to hear. I received my new kalimba, the C chromatic celeste, on Thursday, and I love it! It's wonderful, magical and a true joy to play. Then my husband picked it up and couldn't let it go. Its magic erased the stress from his face and I realized we need another kalimba. He wants one just like it so we can play together. Do you have any more? THANK YOU VERY MUCH !!!!! Sue Thompson, 2009 After I read your e-mailed tips and spent hours and hours on your homepage, reading, listening and watching videos I finally decided to buy a h.t. alto kalimba. The links on your homepage even showed me, that there is a shop in groningen (netherlands) just about 150 kilometers away from my hometown, where they are selling kalimbas.. so I went there, saw this beautiful tm-alto and fell in love with it ;-) it felt, like this instrument picked me, so i bought it directly.. and now i practice nearly every free minute i have.. :) I've been meaning to get back to you to let you know how much we are enjoying the kalimbas and the amadinda. The notation for the kalimba music is simply brilliant and brilliantly simple. As soon as they arrived, my twelve year old daughter Hollie wanted to try one. I handed it to her, showed her the correct way to hold it and pluck the tines, and within a few minutes she was discovering rhythmic patterns and finding melodies. I said to her, "See how important your piano practice is! It's the foundation for all music. You just picked up a brand new instrument and you're already well on your way." Needless to say, she was grinning like a Cheshire cat! And, I haven't had to remind her to practice the piano since then. She also found the notation very easy to follow. If you have a spot on your website for customer testimonials I'd be happy to add something! I will most likely order a few more instruments from you soon. Greg, 2009 I bought a kalimba last year through your website and with it came a most wonderful CD entitled "An Assortment of Kalimbas" with 8 beautiful songs. This year is my last year in high school, and I would like to give this CD to my Latin teacher whom I have had all four years and who has always played a variety of music in her classroom. I know that she will love this CD as part of a "thank-you" present, however I cannot find it for purchase anywhere. Thus, I would like your permission to make a copy to give to her. Thank you for your time and wonderful music! Mark, thanks again for all the cares and let that Magic of kalimbas be with us through the rest of times :) Kirill, 2009 I received the instrument and it is great. I also really like your instructional book and recordings. Excellent work! I have been playing the Ugandan Endongo (East African Kalimba) for many years and had briefly borrowed a South African style instrument from a friend. I am happy to have my own now and look forward to incorporating this into my band. I'm originally a Marimba player so adding Kalimba has been fun (and much easier to carry around). Here is a link to my youtube page if you are interested in seeing/hearing what I've been doing witht the endongo: http://www.youtube.com/kakaire. Thanks again and please stay in touch. Peace and Rhythm, I received the Kalimbas and they are extraordinary. They are in perfect tune and the veterans I have been working with are totally charmed every time we get a chance to play them together. That's not a word I get to use with them too often. Kalimbas are the perfect combination of sound and accessibility. You can't imagine how much joy they bring to both the patients and staff at the hospital here. Please know that your KalimbaMagic is sending its heart tentacles in every nook and cranny of this world. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Peace and Tuned Raindrops, Your newsletters are always so uplifting and your music, caught here and there around town during this lovely holiday season, always thrills my soul! You rock Mark and are one of the magical beings that makes life on this planet so cool! Rock on Mark and thanks for sharing your joy with the world! All the best blessings of the season to you! With Gratitude, I received my Kalimba and it has been more than a joy. My mother is 73 years old and I have never seen her play a musical instrument or even comment on the desire to play one. She played around with the Karimba and thought it was interesting but when the Kalimba came she fell in love. I catch her all the time playing with the Kalimba. She says she likes the sound of the Kalimba and she can actually pick out a tune on the Kalimba. I think you have created a monster. Thanks for everything and Merry Christmas. Just to let you know that the Sansula has got here on Friday and i'm very pleased with it, love the sound--nothing to do with the kalimba i bought out of ebay last year. Thank you very much and i look foward to rebuy from you soon or later !!! Patrick, 2009 It has been nearly 2yrs since I received my Hugh Tracy Alto from you. It has changed my life. I recently heard your Jungle Jam track played on my local NPR affiliate. I was like, "Cool, I know Mark Holdaway!" Love and Peace to you and yours. I appreciate all you do to cultivate awareness and affection for this soul-pleasing instrument. Your Friend, I received my Karimba today and I think a monster has been born. I have been playing with it for over three hours. By the time I got around to reading the book I had already figured out some of the riffs and flourishes. I even pulled out items from my cupboard and I have a large ceramic salad bowl that makes the Karimba sound like a harp being played in an echo chamber and I have a large copper bottom pot that intensifies the sound and gives it a ring-like tone. I know that I will receive hours of pleasure from my instrument. I am hoping that some of my nieces and nephews show an interest in the instrument since I think it would make a great Christmas present. I know I will be getting a Kalimba in the future. Maybe a 17 key Bb. I don't know yet. Right now little 'Kalee' is taking up too much of my free time. I have a feeling that she is going to be a constant companion. Linda, 2009 I am writing to you as I would like to purchase a new one since the first was given as a present to a very dear friend. I was in India and the Kalimba came with me for those endless hours on the train or those lonely moments in my hut. One day a friend of mine that we had amazing connection saw the instrument and he literally spent the next 36 hours playing it. It was crazy. He was playing the Kalimba all the time. Whilst walking, on the rickshaw, with the one hand during eating... He told me this instrument struck a chord inside him and of course this was very obvious. When our ways parted there wasn't anything else that I could do apart from giving the Kalimba to him as a present. The feeling was very strong. Now, without a Kalimba I have started to miss my 'gameboy of sounds' (as I like to call it) and I would like to get a new one. This time I would go for something different. I was thinking about a Kalimba tuned in the Akebono scale. I have seen one in a video in youtube but the specific model did not have the resonating box with the hole in the middle. Is it possible to get one with the box? Of course the pick-up is a must. Thank you very much, A couple of days ago the middle eastern kalimba finally arrived after some hassles with the customs... YEIIIII! It was in perfect shape, and I'm already totally hooked and loving the amazing scale!! :D I just wanted to thank you, this will surely keep me light in the Scandinavian darkness :) You will probably hear from me again in the future when I get hungry for more... haha Have a great time, and keep on spreading the music! Sandra, 2009 Thank you for sending the Sansula book! WOW nice job, it is an absolutely beautiful book! I especially like the guided improvisation parts on the instrument. That gave me a bunch of new ideas for clients and the pentatonic too. Thank you so much! Kathryn, 2009 Let me take this moment to say that yours is a wonderful website - your compassion and commitment to great music and the kalimba is evident, and it's always a genuine joy to receive your newsletters. Peace and best regards, A friend and fellow musician gave me a Celeste pentatonic for my birthday. I've played treble off and on for a few years, but it wasn't the right kalimba for me at the time. Not so with the pentatonic. I played a scale and it made me want to laugh and cry all at once. We were supposed to rehearse other instruments and projects that day, but we never made it that far. This little "instrument of peace" as you've aptly called it, has captured another heart and soul. Crystal, 2009 The Sansula is captivating-- the sustain gives it a totally different feel than a kalimba. It was neat to not really know anything about it and then have you walk me through its beauty and its secrets. Such a well done and thorough book. I personally can't imagine not having this book if I were to buy a Sansula-- the book really helps you get the most out of the instrument and understand what to do with it. I love the photographs you added, too-- I suspect this will be your most spectacular book in print to date. Sharon, 2009 Holy Karimba, I am in heaven. The Alto African stuff is pure genius on your part. More than I hoped for. THANK YOU! Ray, 2009 We kicked $30 for the KTabS last night, and finally figured out that we have to move files from the KTabS READER to the actual KTabS, to print. I am wondering if we can't just delete that free READER program (so our stuff will quit downloading to that), since our $30 dollar KTabS seems to be playing all the audio also. We got my two altos out, and she started plucking out some xmas carols right off, not in time (cause she is looking for those notes/tines), but I was amazed she caught the idea of how it all works so quickly. I never really cared about the paint on the tines, never really understood the logic of it, but I caught on real quick, with the KTabS tablature, those painted tines really help with locating those notes quicker. So, anyway, I got your books out and have been working on Mystical Embrace & Doxology this morning. I think it will be a while before I try to get my wife to understand that 3 against 4 feel, but I hear it in 3 (16th notes) and the 4 (triplets). That is a cool concept how you laid that riff out, kind of hard to do the triplets in 4/4, and not go towards the 3 feel. Oh, I showed my wife the B- chord riff to "First look inside," that blew her mind, but she was getting it by ear, hell, she'll probably be better than me. We had fun. She was also blown away by the deal you cut us, she said, "That poor guy, how is he going to make any money." Heck, with that finance program, I'll be able to afford to buy her a deze and one of your bags (are those padded at all? Will the kalimbas in the boxes they came with, fit in those bags you sell?) for xmas. Man, that k-tab site, pretty much kicks out enough music to work on for a lifetime, pretty cool actually. And, I dig that, that "shalom" tune of yours is on there, I gotta get into that one. Well, she is going to be looking ever day, for her package. I can't thank you enough for everything. Peace, I work in a brain injury program for high functioning people (getting ready to go back to work or school). What group of kalimbas or other instruments would you recommend for a beginning group (6-8 people, or smaller groups if that works better) to help foster group interaction, sound discrimination, provide a way to enhance the learning process, and just have a good time during the recovery process? We will be looking for donations from civic groups and the like as this is too outside the regular hospital model for them to trust funding it. I know you do some of this work from your newsletter and I'm betting you have wonderful advice. I will be on vacation for the next week but will be back in touch after the 6th. By the way, I enjoy your newsletter very much and am practicing on my 35-40 year-old kalimba each day. I love how it makes me feel now that I have actually started learning how to play it! I love your website and your newsletter. You have really done your homework, and you seem like a man with passion, determination, and focus. I think the kalimba is a very magical instrument. It makes me feel good, even when my playing is not so terrific! I would like to share that with others who may not be feeling so good about themselves. Lynda, 2009 You must spend thousands of hours creating your instruction books - and it certainly shows. They are very user friendly, well written, professionally done, clear, and aimed at genuinely helping first time kalimba players be successful. In my many years as an MT, I have certainly seen my share of poorly written "method" books. Yours are very well done and are written in a way that helps the reader/player feel comfortable! You give the person permission to P/play the instrument - to improvise, to let the instrument take over and lead the way vs. what many instructions books do: turn "playing an instrument" into "working at the instrument". The CD's are a phenomenal support too - while I fumble with learning a particular exercise in the book I can hear what it is SUPPOSED to sound like and I have something concrete to work towards. The treble kalimba is for me to play along with my clients while they play the pentatonic so I am learning that one also. My son is a graphic designer and guitarist and has several guitars. We are going to try your suggestion - the pentatonic + guitar chords! Kathryn, 2009 Premium Alto Kalimba 008e arrived today and is so beautiful. Thank you for opening the world of Kalimbas to me. As you say in some of the newsletter archives, each has its own voice and spirit. I will do my best to honor the spirit of each kalimba and share them with the world. Thank you for sending along the shea butter and the lovely cd, both are very much appreciated. For my part, I continue to move forward in my learning... am looking into the ktabs, reading your archives online, borrowed a copy of "Music Theory for Dummies" from the library.. I enjoy your kalimba music very much and I will keep in touch. Thank you again! Blessings, Del here. Just a quick message to say I received my alto kalimba yesterday and I haven't put it down yet! Not even on my date last night or in the shop I work at today. I love it! Gonna get it in my studio tonight with my drummer and really go to town as best I can while I familiarize myself with it better! One day I will be just like Konono No. 1! Del, 2009 Mark, thanks for all the help. My Alto arrived ... it is a beautiful instrument. I have always had music in my head and have tried many instruments to match the sound I can already hear. All these years I was hearing Kalimba music! My big thumbs have no trouble with the tines so I've no need to splay them or remove any. Now I just need time to play. Mind you it's surprising how time can fly when you're just noodling about. I am writing this at 2.30AM, I picked up the Kalimba for a quick noodle at 11! Ian, 2009 Sound of your kalimbas makes the world better! no jokes! I have a good friend, Andre, black african guy from Kongo, he lives in Moscow last 15 years, musician, guitar and songs... He told me a story, that they use the kalimba in hospitals, they just sit a boy with a kalimba beside a sick person to play day and night over! It's a healing sound! It brings men back to themselves, to inner relaxation. Give kalimbas to everybody, and no need to start a new war! Thanks for your efforts! Peter, 2009 One of our Premium Kalimbas went to Bernie: I got the kalimba and book Friday afternoon just before going to work. I love it! It sounds beautiful and is acoustically well balanced. The tines have a much nicer finish than my alto and there are no buzzes. I am setting up a place just for learning and playing. I am going to practice no less than an hour a day and am sure I will make some real progress. Thank you so much. I am sure that you and Kalimba Magic will be blessed by your charitable efforts for the ones who build these little treasures. Who knows, you may actually sell a million kalimbas sooner than you think. Bernie, 2009
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