Many a musician would agree, it is a grand shame and a dastardly travesty to go away for a few months and put instruments in a cage! They're like people and if you let them alone - they just kind of spoil and slide into a somber sorry state and then need to be revived with love and attention when you return. Of all their needs, they must to be played!
Instruments exist to be played.
And so begins... The Monty Cash Instrument Library!
(Wow, what a great idea.. I know)
This round will be started from Perth/Freo (Western Australia). Who knows where instruments could end up... they're people too you know! And they like to go traveling!
We have a few items on offer this round (there will be other rounds ladies and gents). It's a most precipitous moment to get started with the use of an instrument and also if you want a specific sound for some great masterly symphony you're crackin' on the DAW!
As a rule, the person with the most interest and least experience gets priority!
It's about getting instruments out there and played by people that have never played them before or never committed to buying one (or don't have the cash and that's completely ok).
It's also about engaging in alternative forms of exchange and encouraging and allowing opportunities for trust.
I will be based in Perth/Freo until I leave on the 19th of July and will need at least the Drum/Udu for the Sufi Sema gig coming up in North Freo on the 13th of July.
What are the terms of use/borrow:
Take care of them like they are your children.
If you don't use it for a month pass it on to someone else (don't leave the poor thing alone).
Take care of them
Use them
For as long as you use it continuously consider that your updated library card
oh, and of course, take care of them
It's really very simple - and if you feel so inclined - get it repaired and make it better. Consider it a service to yourself and to others who may use it in the future.
Ok - here are the options this round:
Full Button Accordion - This was a gift from Solange in the Netherlands. It is a family heirloom that otherwise would not have been used. I have learned all the fingering for this and written it down on a sheet. Once you get used to where the buttons are you actually have a lot more options than a piano accordion as your notes are closer together. Sadly, as I have been quite involved with Turkish Makam and Indian Raga and correcting my intonation to traditional ways - I have neglected using it (bad Monty!) but you can!! It's such a beautiful instrument and in very good condition for its age - it's el vintage-o. One of the surface of a button is missing but all the functions work and I bought some lovely velvet straps from Italy for it.
Tabla set - This is a decent tabla set and needs to be taken care of. Tabla is a serious instrument, it's not just a set of drums like bongos - in India people dedicate their entire lives playing this one instrument and they are supported by India for doing so. Youtube will help you but I warn you - get some doweling from bunnings and cut it into little bits and add some more strainers to the Dayan (the big one) - it needs them for tuning. Comes with a tuning hammer (looks like it came from a Scandinavian treasure cave) and some chalk (you need it to help your hand slide on the Dayan).
Homemade Kavals - Yes, I made these - in the style of a Macedonian Kaval. Two are in A (large ones for large hands) and one is in E. The Brown large one actually holds a good equal temperament (western tuning). The others are experimental masterpieces. On a Kaval there is no playing piece, you're literally blowing on an angle into a pipe, so once you get your head around the blowing technique (a quick video tutorial and a week of practice to make your first sound
) - you can be the pied piper on the streets of Perth and charm all the snakes at Beckenham train station!
Bendir/Frame Drum - This is a synthetic skin frame drum in D (well it kind of shifts a little sometimes but generally stays around D). You can use it for all traditional musics. Youtube videos are rife with tutorials on this. I use this one a bit like a daf or erbane from Iran which normally has rings on it. You can use a sitting method on your knee or hold it with two hands with a thumb on the side. The choice is yours!
Udu/Claypot Drum - I made this one - it's a little special. I even sanded it and made it smooth - your hand get sore but it makes a good doof. After a time your hand gets used to smacking against a clay pot. You'll discover a certain interesting tenacity building in your hand and finger muscles after about a month's time! Something to look forward to!
Thank you folks! Let me know if you're keen. I hope to come back from Turkiye with a massive bag/s of fizz bang fancy instruments, I paid an extra 10 kg luggage for 250 USD for a reason!
So the motto of this library is: Keep the ball rolling and keep instruments in the hands of those wanting to play them! Onwards!
You can message me on if you're keen - 0422 563 234
Let's start with a hot drink and a chat and take it from there (of course, I'll need to see you're really there! And also measure your keen as beans-ness!
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