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Playing Sansula and Native American Flute at 86, he is at a peak of his musical career Listen to John’s CD “Nesama,” Featuring Native American Flute   At the age of 86, John Burns of Melbourne, Australia is having the time of his life, playing meditative music on the Native American Flute and the Sansula. He started playing tuba in high school, then a rare chording harmonica. He continues his exploration of arpeggiated chords, now on the Sansula. John brings the sensitivity and spirituality of the Native American Flute to his Sansula playing, and he touches the hearts of the people for whom he plays.   Kalimba Magic: John, when

Here is a great activity – and an ebook – for homebound kids and parents Get the 10-Note / 17-Note Duets eBook   Now is a chance for many people around the world to do some home-schooling. Kids are loving the time and parental attention combined with the freedom of being home instead of at school. What a great time to do kalimba with them! This is an opportunity for precious one-on-one time with your kids… or with your parents! This is a time to make something beautiful together. And I can recommend two kalimbas (see the image above) that go great together, and they come with an ebook of

Thank you to the world for this opportunity to keep on serving you My Bb Treble Kalimba and a rare crested saguaro cactus in Tucson Mountain Park, AZ. Photo: Su Lupasco Washington   When life slaps you in the face, what do you do? You get to decide. It is all up to you. But if you keep walking with an attitude of gratitude for the things that still work, for the sun that shines warm on your face, the wind that cools you down, the rain that waters the plants, the stars that shine at night, and the song that plays on in your heart – you’ll have a

If you have been frustrated with learning kalimba, try starting here Get your Numbers-Based Kalimba ebook today   Kalimba tablature, invented by yours truly in 2004, reflects my internal conceptualization of the kalimba and how it is played. My gift to the kalimba world, this tablature can be used to learn how to play, to transmit any sort of music to others, as well as an easy and elegant aid in composing new music. But not everyone likes my vertical tablature. If you’re new to kalimba tablature and find it overwhelming, you might want to first try the numbers-based approach to learning how to play. A simple, “play by the

There are so many reasons to love it! Shop for Kalimbas, eBooks, and Kalimba Accessories   I have been playing music since I was 8 years old – for almost 50 years. I did not discover the kalimba until I was 24 – about 34 years ago. I have played many different instruments, and though I love many of them, the kalimba is my favorite. It is the instrument that I have become most recognized for, and it is also the instrument that I make my living through. What are my reasons for loving playing the kalimba so much? The first reason why I love playing kalimba: It helps you

“yes!” is the verdict of Kalimbacam’s glowing YouTube review of the Hugh Tracey Alto Kalimba Top: Hugh Tracey Student Karimba on “TM” body. Right: Hugh Tracey Alto Kalimba. Bottom: Hugh Tracey African-tuned Karimba   For the last two years, people have been asking me in emails: “So, is the Hugh Tracey kalimba really worth it? I can get a 17-note kalimba made in China for much less.” Of my own personal kalimbas, 8 out of the 10 that I commonly use for performances are Hugh Tracey instruments. Obviously, it’s clear to me that if you are at the performance level, the Hugh Tracey kalimba is worth it. But I have

This is such an obvious song to perform on the kalimba! Click to download the 3-page tablature PDF with live link to the MP3 file   A large part of what makes the kalimba such a magical instrument is the nostalgia it creates when you play it. Not always, but often the kalimba will sound like a tiny little music box. You can play that up, by learning some of the famous songs from music boxes: “A Time For Us,” “Over the Rainbow,” or “Fur Elise.” And an obvious song to add to that list would be Frank Mills’ “Music Box Dancer” – which in my mind was a song

They help give you a more accurate tuning, and eliminate hand pain from tuning “by hand” Get Your Tiny Tuning Hammer Today!   Tuning your kalimba is a mixed bag. Unlike guitar, you don’t have to tune your kalimba every time you pick it up. In fact, most kalimbas will hold their tune for weeks or months. On the other hand, once your kalimba needs tuning, you may have no idea what to do. My own favored technique is to just move the tines around by hand – but I’ve done it a time or two, and my fingers are callused in all the right places for this work. It

Multi-mode music from my book “Exploring the Hokema B11 Kalimba” When you start playing your kalimba, on which note do you start? Most people think the low(est) note is where they should start – and they tend to play their kalimba in that key. However, you can play your kalimba emphasizing other notes, and not only do you play in a different “key” in each case, but you will also play with a different scale or mode… and each scale gives your kalimba playing a different flavor. If you have a B11 kalimba, watch this video of B11 multi-mode music. you can learn these “tricks” and understand how to play