Hallo.
This is Dieter Hauptmann, hope you still need some help with balalaika. I am a virtuoso in Adelaide and teach at the Russian School how to play the instrument. As they didn'thave any, I built over 14 balalaikas in the last year. Nextsaturday my junior ensemble (10 strong, most under 12 years old) will play at their end of year concert and my senior ensemble (12 strong, most over 40years old) at the Russian Arts and Craft Fair here in Adelaide. There is almost nothing regarding Russian Folk where I couldn't help, check me out on Youtube oerforming with my wife Ally, who is a competent balalaika contrabass player.
Get in touch if you still need help, the instruction book mentioned by some other writers is from Mel Bay, author Bibs Ekkel in London, who is a good friend of mine. You can order it at Allans Music, I suppose there is one in Brissi.
Looking foreward to be of some help, long live the Magic of the Balalaika.
greetings   Dieter Hauptmann