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Homemade Kazoo

The kazoo has a long history that many believe can be traced to Africa and a horn-mirliton, an instrument used at tribe gatherings to distort voices. The kazoo appeared in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries as an "eunuk" flute. It was not until 1840 that the kazoo took on its present form thanks to Alabama West in Macon, Georgia. Emil Sorg sought to bring the kazoo to mass production in 1912. But you don't need a factory to make a kazoo. With items found around the house, you can make a homemade kazoo and strike up the band.

Gather the Materials
- To make a homemade kazoo, you need to first gather your materials. For the body of the kazoo, collect a cardboard roll from toilet paper or paper towels. Add to that wax paper, scissors, a hole punch, rubber bands and masking tape.
Prepare the Tube
- Measure down from one end of the tube with a ruler and make a mark at 3/4 inch. Make a hole in the tube with a hole punch on the mark.
Assemble the Kazoo
- Cut a piece of waxed paper that's large enough to go over the end of the tube. Drape it over the end of the kazoo that has the hole you just made, but don't cover the hole. Secure it with a rubber band.
Play the Kazoo
- Blow into the open end of the kazoo and hum as you do so. You can experiment with various sized tubes as well as holes in the kazoo to create different tones and sounds. With the longer kazoos, your voice could sound larger and deeper, like shouting through a bullhorn versus through your cupped hands. Just as an actual orchestra's instruments range in size from a piccolo to the mighty tuba, you could create a kazoo orchestra with kazoos of varying sizes.

Childrens Toys