By Alison Boyd
Contributing Writer

"DIDGE" DEMO – Michael J. Edwards, an expert at playing the didgeridoo, an instrument used by Australian aborigines, gives students at Maple Avenue Elementary School a demonstration of his skills. The third- and fourth-graders used cardboard tubes to play along with him on Tuesday, Jan. 18. (Alison Boyd Photo)

Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered for his active pursuit of equal rights and the acknowledgement and respect of cultural diversity.

As a way to celebrate King’s achievements, Marc Boyd, principal of Maple Avenue Elementary School, invited Australian didgeridoo player Michael J. Edwards to the school. On Tuesday, Jan. 18, Edwards taught students in third and fourth grade about the environment and the aboriginal people of the Australian continent.

“Teaching the kids has been a wonderful experience,” said Edwards, who usually teaches university students. “They have so much energy and enthusiasm and have wanted to learn about the environment and aboriginal people, which I find very encouraging.”

Although born in Great Britain, Edwards traveled to Australia 11 years ago on a scholarship allowing him to obtain his doctorate in environmental security.

During his time in Australia, he learned to appreciate the culture of the aboriginal people and their methods of respecting the environment.

AUSSIE ART – Edwards taught students about aboriginal art symbols, which they used to paint murals depicting New Hampshire wildlife. (Alison Boyd Photo)

Edwards, who has become one of the world’s most accomplished “didge” players, has been visiting New Hampshire schools and universities where he has been trying to encourage respect for the indigenous people of Australia and raise environmental awareness. He uses both music and art from the aboriginal culture to explore the links between humans and their natural surroundings.

Edwards believes this is particularly important in a country such as the United States, which has higher resource consumption per capita than any other country in the world.

During his presentation to the third- and fourth-grade students of Maple Ave., Edwards presented photos that show the direct relationship between Australian landscapes and aboriginal art.

He also demonstrated the “sound of Australia” – the didgeridoo. Didgeridoos are made from a hollow piece of timber created by termites eating through the center of the branch or trunk of a Eucalyptus tree.

He explained that the didgeridoo is a very complex instrument to play. With different shapes of your mouth a didge player creates various sounds. Edwards also explained the technique of “circular breathing” to the students.

While blowing up a balloon with one breath, Edwards explained that circular breathing allows you to continue to blow, while at the same time allowing you to breath in more air. So basically, you have to learn how to breathe in through your nose and out from your mouth at the same time, he said.

After the presentation, the students had the unique opportunity to play their own cardboard didgeridoos under the instruction of Edwards. Following this, students painted murals about New Hampshire wildlife using symbols influenced by aboriginal artists.

From New Hampshire, Edwards will travel to London where he is teaching students at the American Institute of Foreign Study about natural disasters like the recent tsunami. He hopes to return to the United States later this year to continue his work with elementary school students in New Hampshire.