Before your first lessons on the Armenian duduk, the instrument needs to be carefully prepared. Preparation consists of putting a few drops of water into the reed, then emptying it, closing the cap — and after 15–20 minutes you can start playing.
Before the student begins to play, they are shown the position of the reed on the lips and the technique of producing sound, and then how to inhale and exhale. The reed is gripped with the lips while slightly puffing out the cheeks, so that the inner walls move away from the gums and teeth, creating space for air.
Two fingerings
Once the correct sound is achieved, you can move on to the first exercises. The duduk has two types of fingering.
- The first is a simplified version: the little finger of the left hand is not used. It is applied at the initial stage, during the first year of learning.
- The second fingering is harder: it is mastered from the second year, since there are many scales and pieces that require all the fingers.
The first year of learning
To develop the student's musical taste and keep their interest in the lessons, the repertoire should be changed fairly often. Over the first year the student should thoroughly master the playing techniques of the duduk and develop initial performance skills.
