Daily playing of a didgeridoo can help alleviate sleep problems, a study says.



Swiss researchers found using the instrument for 25 minutes a day helped people with sleep apnoea, the British Medical Journal reported.

The disorder causes the throat to close and breathing to stop, waking the patient, but the sessions helped by strengthening the airways.

UK experts said such exercising of the airways was known to help.

About 5% of the population has the syndrome, which can cause people to wake up regularly during the night, and common advice from doctors is to lose weight.

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"Exercising the airways in such a way is known to help people with this condition."

Neil Stanley, sleep expert.

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But the team, from the Zuercher Hoehenklinik Wald hospital, decided to investigate whether playing the Aboriginal wind instrument helped patients after hearing reports that it had solved some sleep-related problems.

The team identified 25 people with sleep apnoea and split them into two groups - one which was given daily lessons for four months, while the other was kept on a waiting list for lessons.

Patients who had lessons reported less sleepiness during the day and their partners said there were less disturbances.

Lead researcher Otto Braendli said larger trials were needed to confirm the findings, but said the study offered hope.

"Our results are the first to show that training the upper airways significantly improves sleep related outcomes."

University of Surrey sleep expert Neil Stanley said: "Exercising the airways in such a way is known to help people with this condition.

"There have been reports that people who have done singing have benefited in a similar way. However, most doctors would advise people to lose weight."

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BBC - Berkshire Music - Reading gets its own Didgeridoo Club
September 2003

A new sound is coming to Reading. Wokingham Didgeridoo enthusiast Kelly Hutchinson is setting up a club to attract all levels of players of this increasingly popular Australian aboriginal instrument.



If the end of the summer has made you turn your thoughts to learning something new then Kelly Hutchinson and his didgeridoo may have the answer, yes, Reading is getting its very own didgeridoo club!

The club will take place at South St. Arts Centre, 21 South St. Reading from Friday 10th October (7pm) and thereafter on every 2nd Friday of the month.

There will be workshops for the complete beginner as well as activities for more advanced players. Kelly hopes to attract some of the U.K.'s best players as guests and to teach at the club.

Ant Scott, this country's best known maker of the didgeridoo will be to attending the first meeting and will be bringing some examples of his work to try or buy.

Made from hollowed out tree branches the didgeridoo is an essential part of aboriginal culture stretching back thousands of years. This simple instrument is capable of an amazing variety of sounds.

With a little practice anyone can play it, young or old. In fact the oldest person attending the first night of the new club will be 82 years old!

To cover costs there will be a small charge of £3.00 on the door.

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Didgeridoo craftsmen under threat
March 2003

The Didgeridoo is both the cultural icon of Aboriginal Australia and a keepsake for thousands of tourists each year.

Click here for full story.

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