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Mark Holdaway

The Olive-9 Kalimba – Cool for Improvisation, and On Sale Now!

Hey, if you are looking for a new and different experience with kalimba, consider the Pentatonic 9-Note Olive-9 Kalimba. While most 17–Note kalimbas these days implicitly push a precise playing mindset, this kalimba is all about fun and freedom: Of course, within that fun and freedom, you can still do some awesome things: But improvisation is key on this cool kalikmba: This kalimba has a routed out body – which means you can make the cool “wah wah” effect by placing it on a flat surface as you play, and then lifting it up: And every Olive-9 Kalimba shipped from Kalimba Magic contains this 36 page manual to help you

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Blog
Mark Holdaway

Do You Have an Old Kalimba in Need of Tuning Up? The Kalimba Doctor Can Help

Kalimba Magic Gives You the Tools You Need to Succeed Does your kalimba need tuning? Read Here! Does your kalimba have a buzzy tine? Read Here! Do you need to paint your tines? Read Here!   BUT, what if the kalimba job is beyond you? The Kalimba Doctors can Help I’m Mark… but it turns out that my associate Mike is just as skilled as I am at getting your kalimba looking and sounding its best. I recently went away to a wedding, but before I hopped onto that plane, I left my two prized kalimbas – my very-first-ever blond Bb Treble from circa 1970, and my ancient Alto Kalimba

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Blog
Mark Holdaway

How to Use the EZ Numbers Book… With the B11 Kalimba

The EZ Numbers Book uses numbers above the lyrics to 63 well-known songs to help you learn to play the songs very simply. This looks simple… but exactly how do I translate these numbers to, say, a B11 Kalimba? There are two details to be aware of: first, a 6-Note Kalimba (or an 11-Note Kalimba) cannot play the same music that a 17-Note Kalimba can play. (On the flip side, a 17-Note kalimba will probably be able to play everything the 6-Note or 11-Note Kalimba can play.) So, the EZ Numbers Book is split into different sections, based on how many, and which notes you need to play it. The

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Blog
Mark Holdaway

Using Our 17-Note Materials for 21-Note Kaimbas

Hey, did you get a 21-Note Kalimba, only to discover that there aren’t any books for it? The 21-Note Kalimba Tuning is typically just like the 17-Note Kalimba… with four extra notes in the middle, below the low C = 1. People often think that this kalimba is in the key of F. However, to be in F, you would want to have Bb (B flat) notes, instead of B. So, what are those low F, G, A, and B tines doing right in the middle? Well, they are mainly used for harmony, chords, and accompaniment… all relatively advanced concepts. F is the 4 of the key of C, and

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Blog
Mark Holdaway

New eBook: Just the Tips, coming in July 2023

If you preordered this ebook and you are waiting for it… your wait is almost over. I have been making good progress on this book while I’m in England. I go out for a kalimba walk in the cool green woods here, and I think of five more things to write about. Then I come home and write about them. I am currently at well over 100 pages. These are gems of wisdom gleaned from my over 37 years of kalimba experience. (Yes, I bought my first Hugh Tracey Kalimba 37 years ago this month. And I started Kalimba Magic 18 years ago this month.) But rather than tie these

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Blog
Mark Holdaway

American-Made Goshen Kalimbas, Western and African Tuned

We still have a few more Goshen Kalimbas. These are high quality, American-made kalimbas, suitable for beginners or for people who just want a pretty instrument that plays beautiful sounds. Here are the Goshen Kalimbas we sell. Goshen 8-Note Box Kalimba: Goshen 8-Note Student Karimba Goshen 9-Note Student Karimba      

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Blog
Mark Holdaway

From African Mbira to the Modern Kalimba – A Hugh Tracey Story

Have you ever wondered how we got the modern Chinese kalimba from the traditional African Mbira Dzavadzimu? The answer runs right through Hugh Tracey, who lived 1903 – 1977, studied the traditional African instruments, and made his own version of the instrument: the Hugh Tracey Kalimba. Check out this video I made to explain: Learn more about the history of the kalimba here.  

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Blog
Mark Holdaway

365 Days to Kalimba Mastery Volume II – Available Now

Get your phone-screen-sized, 220 lesson download: 365 Days for the 17-Note Kalimba in C, Volume II [Editorial note: this ebook has been a long time in coming. I originally advertised this book would be out by November 1 2022. It took longer than that. But it is here today – February 20, 2023. Most of the sound recordings are not done as yet, so when you touch or click on the sound icon today, On the one hand, this collection of kalimba lessons is my life’s work. But I also know that this collection just touches the surface of what I have to give. Contents of 365 Days / Volume

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Blog
Mark Holdaway

Kalimba Programs in the Libraries

Before Covid, I used to do kalimba performances and presentations in the libraries. Now, I’m coming back with these five classes of performances that I will be looking to book in 2024. I have a great deal of kalimba expertise, and I can tailor my performance to your audiences, but here are five basic shows that I am ready to do for you: The History of the Kalimba – Presentation, Performance, and Hands On Activity The first kalimbas were made from palm fronds in western Africa about 3000 years ago. When the iron age reached southern Africa 1300 years ago, kalimba tines were one of the first uses for the

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