Welcome to AAHA Learning

Bruce is the proud father of lead singer Donovan Copley from the South African band Hot Water.
Visit their website -> Hot Water

Artist: Hot Water with Donovan Copley

Bushfire
LADUMA! by Hot Water

Hot Water must easily be one of the most exciting musical projects to come out of South Africa... The Citizen

Stylistically Hot Water's music incorporates elements of traditional African music (such as kwela, mbaqanga, maskandi and kwasa kwasa) with folk, blues and indie-pop rock.

They have mixed a brew that somehow manages to capture an authentic and unique South African feel and flavour.

Southern African music has a natural instinct for celebration and Hot Water's live performances have a magical way of spontaneously warming any event. Combining unusual instruments from South Africa and around the world, this cross-over collaboration creates a show at every performance, cutting across boundaries of age and culture.

Hot Water offers a unique money-back-guarantee on all their performances (as well as their albums) and if you see them perform, you will understand why!


Bruce Copley is a passionate multi-instrumentalist currently enjoying playing 117 different instruments. Here are some songs recently recorded featuring a variety of different instruments.

Artist: Dr Bruce Copley

1. soprano_sax_and_pygmy_hang.mp3

Hang Around With Some Sax

Hang Around With Some Sax

In this light hearted improvisation, Anders Paulsson the celebrated Swedish musician, song writer and composer plays the soprano sax and I play the Pygmy hang drum.

2. hang_didge_cello.mp3

Cello, Didge and Halo Effect

Cello, Didge and Halo Effect

An improvised dance of cello played by Barbara Kennedy with me on the didge and the Halo drum recorded live at a Pringle Bay concert.

3. two_saxes_piano.mp3

Takes 3 to Tango

Takes 3 to Tango

An improvised piece with Barbara Kennedy on electric piano, me on the bamboo sax and Anders Paulsson on the soprano sax.

4. camel_train.mp3

Camel Train

Camel Train

A song composed by Barbara Kennedy playing the cello and yours truly on the Tarbuka drum, didge, shaker and bells, performed live at a concert in Pringle Bay.

5. sax_cello_didge_hang.mp3

Sweet and Simple

Sweet and Simple

An improvised creation with Anders Paulsson on soprano sax, Barbara Kennedy on cello and yours truly playing the didge, shaker and Hang drum.

6. karimba_piano_cello.mp3

Afro/Euro Play-Along

Afro/Euro Play-Along

This creation emerged spontaneously to close our Pringle Bay concert with Barbara Kennedy on electric piano, renowned Austrian Erich Huetter on cello and me playing the Karimba or African piano (Mbira).

7. two_saxes_piano.mp3

Troika Dance

Troika Dance

An improvised tune with Barbara Kennedy on electric piano, Anders Paulsson on soprano sax and yours truly on the bamboo sax.

8. sacred_heart_flute.mp3

A Sacred Co-Creation

A Sacred Co-Creation

I play the hauntingly beautiful 4 chambered sacred heart flute with Barbara Kennedy on electric piano and Erich Huetter on cello at a concert in Pringle Bay.

9. hang_cello.mp3

And Then There Were Two

And Then There Were Two

An improvised creation recorded live at a concert in Pringle Bay with Barbara Kennedy on cello and me sounding the Halo drum.

10. have_i_told_you_lately-harmonica.mp3

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Harmonica)

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Harmonica)

This song is dedicated to my beloved friends who shared our recent extraordinary sacred circle gathering where we were able in the most beautiful way to say YES I have told you lately that I love you!! May that experience and this song be a reminder to continually express your love and gratitude to those who make your life worth living.

Backing track with permission from Ameritz Music Ltd
11. dont_worry_be_happy-lekolilo.mp3

Don't Worry, Be Happy (Lekolilo)

Don't Worry, Be Happy (Lekolilo)

This is just a simple plastic irrigation pipe(no holes or fipple) that is transformed into a sweet sounding African Penny Whistle. I saw a wonderful black musician (Mduduzi Mbuyazi) playing this pipe on the Waterfront a few years ago and was so inspired by what I heard that I decided to learn to play it myself and it is now one of my favourite instruments. It has a long history in South Africa and was played using a reed by cattle herders in many of the tribes eg Sotho, Pedi, Zulu who used to play to the cattle they were tending to help them produce sweet milk. I have handed out thousands all over the world and there are now many youngsters playing it on street corners and making a living doing it.

Backing track with permission from Ameritz Music Ltd
12. perhaps_love-harmonica.mp3

Perhaps Love Is... (Harmonica)

Perhaps Love Is... (Harmonica)

This beautiful and very popular song written by John Denver and sung as a duet with Placido Domingo, is a moving reminder that LOVE is what makes life worth living and that in both its giving and receiving, it always has met and always will meet every human need.

Backing track with permission from Ameritz Music Ltd
13. from_a_distance-ocarina.mp3

From A Distance (Ocarina)

From A Distance (Ocarina)

This moving song reminds us of the importance of Eco Literacy and in particular of cultivating a deep respect for our beautiful silver grey planet. The Ocarina which is an ancient circular clay flute is an instrument I have really grown to love deeply. Made from the earth of our astonishing earth it feels very appropriate to be playing this song with the ocarina......it is my gift to the earth and to you as the children of the earth.

Backing track with permission from Ameritz Music Ltd
14. for_all_we_know-harmonica.mp3

For All We Know (Harmonica)

For All We Know (Harmonica)

This song was made famous by Karen Carpenter whose beautiful voice still echoes in my mind everytime I hear or play this song. The harmonica uses both the in and the out breath to create notes and this flowing life force balance offers something very life affirming when playing it.

Backing track with permission from Ameritz Music Ltd
15. have_i_told_you_lately-karimba.mp3

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Karimba)

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Karimba)

I had this Karimba(Mbira) commonly known as the African Piano especially designed for me by African Musical Instruments in Grahamstown (owned by the famous Andrew Tracey son of the late and even more famous Hugh Tracey). It has 15 notes or more than 2 full octaves and this one is in F which is one of my favourite keys.

Backing track with permission from Ameritz Music Ltd
16. fly_me_to_the_moon-whistling.mp3

Fly Me To The Moon (Whistling)

Fly Me To The Moon (Whistling)

Roger Whittaker inspired me many years ago with his beautiful whistling(Don't Believe in If Anymore) and this wonderful song originally performed by Frank Sinatra just makes me want to whistle when I hear it.....here then is a 3 H (Head, Heart and Hands) dance expression of this knee jerk response.

Backing track with permission from Ameritz Music Ltd
17. clarytone_medley-clarytone.mp3

Clarytone (Medley)

Clarytone (Medley)

The Clarytone is much more than meets the eye. This astonishing instrument allows anyone irrespective of their musical background or experience to begin playing recognizable tunes you have in your head in just a FEW MINUTES. To play it accurately does require practice in much the same way that singing in tune does.

Dr Bruce Copley demonstrates the Lekolilo.