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(From left) The three beatboxers Leo Chiu Pok-ho, Anton Cheung Ho-yu and So Tsz-lun share their story of getting into beatbox. Beat out without

by Chelsea Yu instrument hree young men equipped lai, a fourth-year hotel and tourism ago, they happened to watch a video with microphones management student at the CUHK. posted by an American beatboxer, DJ Tmarched up onto the Miu was experiencing an () Effex. This led to their stage. Suddenly, one of them gave off auditory illusion. While beatboxers interest in this new form of music. the sound of “boom chak buh-buh hum with their noses, their mouths “I watched his video three years boom boom chak”. As the sound can also make alternative sounds ago and it was amazing! At the went faster, two other “beatboxers” simultaneously, tricking the beginning, I didn’t believe he made all jammed amid the cheers. Soon the listeners into believing that they the sounds on his own,” said Chiu. whole area was pulsating with high- are making lots of different sounds Though Chiu said he thought spirited beats and the crowd were at the same time. it was sort of a gimmick for people rocking for all they were worth. After witnessing their striking to post videos online, he found The three beatboxers, Leo Chiu talents, students of Chung Chi, beatboxing so cool that he wanted Pok-ho, Anton Cheung Ho-yu and another college at the university, also to learn how DJ Effex does all So Tsz-lun, who are all under 20, invited them to perform at their own the wonderful vocals. Driven by were invited to perform at the “feast- college celebration. curiosity, Chiu began searching for for-a-thousand”, an anniversary Yu Ka-hang, a 22-year-old more information about beatbox on celebration for United College of the university student who studies the internet. Chinese University of Hong Kong sports science and physical education His research led him into a (CUHK) last October. at the CUHK, said: “It’s quite website set up by beatboxers Mark Beatbox is a form of vocal interesting and I would like to learn Splinter and Gavin Tyte. At the percussion in which the artists it (beatboxing). But I have no idea website, there are a series of video imitate drum beats with their lips, where I can do this.” lessons to teach beatbox beginners tongue, mouth, throat, and voice. Surprisingly, the beatboxers the essential techniques. With the “It’s crazy! He (the beatboxer) said getting into beatbox was just a video lessons at the website, Chiu makes different sounds at the coincidence, instead of purposedly was able to access the secrets behind same time,” said Helen Miu Sau- learning it from a teacher. A few years the amazing sounds.

3 6 VARSITY However, the 19-year-old’s busy who wish to sharpen their skills will in engineering at university. To him, schedule as a student at the Institute need to practise over and over again music is still a hobby. of Vocational Education (IVE) makes as some skills cannot possibly be However, three of them shared it hard for him to pick up beatboxing. taught by oral instructions. the same thought that the music Therefore, he downloaded the Therefore, he does not industry in Hong Kong can hardly tutorial clips from the website onto recommend beginners to learn accommodate alternative music styles his handheld game console to allow beatbox from any teacher because like beatbox, which makes the path of him to learn the essential techniques they may become too dependent professional beatboxers really tough in his spare time. on them. to walk. He now makes use of the time Cheung said many beginners give Although some mainstream commuting to watch the clips. He up learning when they find the three music adds beatbox elements would look for a seat away from basic sounds difficult. Learning occasionally, the trio reckon it is others on the bus to practice quietly. beatbox can be difficult at the only a gimmick introduced by the According to Chiu, the sounds he beginning, but it is very rewarding producers. The trend is likely to fade made at the beginning were so terrible to see the improvements finally, away very soon like any other fad. that he did not want anybody to hear he added. Chiu, Cheung and so said they them. He would hide himself away So Tse-lun, also one of the trio, hope beatbox can gain popularity and practise beatboxing alone, until said beatbox almost becomes part gradually and develop steadily with he received his mother’s comment. of his life. He practises beatbox on stable support from the community. “I was practising beatbox with his way home and to school, before From time to time, the three a microphone in my bedroom. dinner, while taking a shower and so beatboxers deliver performances Suddenly my mum knocked the door on. Whenever his mouth is idle, he at functions jointly hosted by and told me to turn down the volume practises beatbox. different secondary schools and of my hi-fi,” said Chiu with a confident “I don’t find it a painful process. universities, and run street shows smile, as the sounds he made was so Instead, I think it is more like an in Mong Kok. real that his mother thought it was enjoyment,” said So, who is known But they said it is difficult for really the hi-fi playing. as Heartgrey in beatbox circles. After them to earn a living from it. They He continued: “I now keep my mastering all the basic skills, he only consider a public performace door open, and have never closed it takes one step further to develop a as a way of promoting the art. Yet, again (when practising) ever since.” unique style of his own. “Beatboxing at least one person in Hong Kong Chiu said the encouragement is imitating instrumental sounds. is actually trying to turn his interest from his mother has strengthened his Everybody would be the same into a career. confidence in performing beatbox. without a style,” he said. It pushed him to practise harder in So is enthusiastic in developing MUSIC OF SCHOOL BARON OF COURTESY order to master the skills. Gradually new skills such as lip . he established his own style of hip Lip scratch imitates the sounds of hop beatboxing, acting as a steady scratching on a DJ turntable, but beat for the rappers. with a higher tone. So said mixing lip “Working hard is the only way scratching into the beat would give a out. There are no cheats as there is very special effect. no gain when there is no pain,” said The three young men used to 19-year-old Anton Cheung Ho-yu, be of a beatbox group, Juz Kidding, one of the trio, who started learning which held regular practices. They beatbox three years ago. said group practising is inspiring Besides performing, this summer, because skills are polished when they Cheung also started to teach as a share them with others. part-time instructor at Warehouse However, their team disbanded Teenage Club Limited, a non-profit last September since members have organisation set up in 1992 to provide other goals to achieve. Some need to teenagers with a safe place to explore focus on work, others need to focus their creativity. on studies. He explained that beatbox relies Like So, who is going to sit for strongly on students’ motivation to the Advanced Level Examination Kevin Chan Kam-ho tells his life as a full- time musician. learn. Teachers’ instructions may help this year, has to devote more time to at the beginner level, but for those his study now. He wishes to major

JANUARY 2009 3 7 1 1&2: Greg Pattillo (left) demonstrates beatbox flute techniques at the workshop.

Kevin Chan Kam-ho teaches not a piano or a computer by his side. “In Hong Kong, it seems only beatbox at the Baron School of Music, So he tried to imitate instrumental what the teacher teaches is correct,” which was established by Ronald sounds like beatboxers. the self-learner of beatbox said. Ng Lok-shing, a renowned Hong “Now I can compose everywhere, To him, beatbox and music are Kong musician. The fresh graduate even in the streets,” said Chan, whose inseparable. He added: “Beatbox is a from the School of Design of Hong talents gained more recognition after language. It is able to communicate Kong Polytechnic University is now performing in a concert with local with other musical instruments.” a full time musician with a monthly singer Leo Ku Kui-kei. “Therefore it is the musical and income of about HK$20,000. At the beginning, he was very rhythmic sense that matters the He also performs on request. keen on learning all the beatbox skills most, though beatbox skills cannot However, the start of his beatbox as soon as possible. He could not be overlooked,” said Chan. As a journey is a completely different help practising during lectures at the design graduate, he sees the similarity story from the trio. university. His annoyed classmates between beatbox and design arts He first made acquaintance with would ask him to keep quiet. both command creativity. “You just the human-made sounds when he Since people might regard him need to remain creative all the time,” watched the movie Police Academy strange to practise in public spaces, he said. in which actor Michael Winslow Chan sought out the best place to To the audience’s delight, creative produces numerous sound effects practise. “I prefer practising in the efforts made by beatboxers around and causes an embarrassing scene in bathroom because the echo enhances the world have successfully inspired a restaurant. However, this close-to- the sound a lot. The bedroom is my talents across the music industry. beatbox element seems to be just a favourite (practicing place) as well,” Greg Pattillo, a United States-based tool used by comedians. he said. flute player, is an example. The Later another movie allowed him He found among his students, musician made his name adapting to take a closer look at beatbox and the women are shyer than men. beatboxing to flute playing. it was Men In Black II. In the movie, Chan supposed it is because beatbox Beatbox flute sounds as if there Will Smith communicates with aliens resembles spitting so girls are is a drum beat backing up the flute’s in a post office using beatboxing reluctant to “spit”. tune when the player does beatbox language. Again, beatbox element is Though Chan is a beatbox and plays the flute at the same time. intended to be part of a joke, yet, it instructor, he pointed out that the After watching Pattillo’s gave beatbox a world audience. best that a teacher can do is to share beatboxing flute videos on YouTube, Since the 25-year-old music lover their experience. A large part of which have been viewed over 12 composes songs from time to time, it the learning process remains with million times, Nigel Ng Wai-hung, is a lot less convenient when there is the students. music director of Syrinx Hong Kong

3 8 VARSITY COURTESY OF NIGEL NG WAI-HUNG NG NIGEL OF COURTESY

2 What is Flute Workshop invited Pattillo and his band, named Project, to perform beatbox? in Tsuen Wan Town Hall Auditorium The term “beatboxing” last October. comes from the sound of the first Ng said: “Beatbox flute requires generation of drum machines, electronic devices highly sensitive lips and advanced which simulate the sound of percussion instruments. skills. It is very tricky to do.” In The art of beatbox can be traced back to the 1980s in the addition to the main concert, Ng also US. At that time African Americans could hardly afford musical arranged a workshop for the beatbox instruments for parties. So they started to mimic the sounds of flute player to share his knowledge different instruments, including drums, in street corners to create their with music lovers. own music. A 37-year-old flute player, Ng Beatbox is thus closely associated with , which belongs to the learned beatbox flute skills in a urban music genre, and is often referred to as the fifth element of hip workshop. To him, beatbox flute hop alongside DJ-ing (playing as a disc jockey), , break is different from traditional flute dancing and graffiti art. playing. Beatbox flute is very much There are three basic sounds in beatbox, namely linked to jazz flute, as both are kick drum ([b]), hi-hat ([t]) and snare ([p]). They represent powerful expression of one’s own three basic components of a drum set. personality. It is a tune with such Kick drum refers to the base drum. Its sound is made by strong rhythm that people cannot completely closing the lips and then releasing them by a burst help moving their bodies with. of air. The simplest way to make a classic kick drum sound is to say the Although only 30 to 40 per cent letter “B”. of the seats were occupied during Hi-hat is the two cymbals that clash together when the foot pedal is the performance, the audience were pressed. To mimic a basic closed hi-hat sound is to make a simple “T” passionate. “The clapping was so sound with your teeth lightly closed. loud that it was almost like we had a Snare is a drum with wires called snares underneath. The full house,” said Ng. simplest way to imitate the classic snare sound is to say the Ng believes that beatbox has the letter “P” louder than usual. To produce a more snare- potential to become more popular in like sound, most beatboxers add a second fricative the future. sound to the initial “P” sound, blowing out [pf], [ps] or [psh].

Source: Kevin Chan Kam-ho and Leo Chiu Pok-ho

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