HOW TO MAKE THE SNAKE CHARMER'S DUCK CALL

WHAT YOU NEED

You need a (flexible) drinking straw and sharp scissors. If you make the second version (at the bottom of the page) a paper punch will come in handy.

STEP 1

Flatten half of the short part of the straw.

Notice that there are three parts to a flexible straw: the long part, the short part, and the bendy part that separates them.

Flatten half of the short part, preferably with your front teeth (although sometimes I make this project with young kids who have temporarily lost them, so we make do with thumb and forefinger). Concentrate your teeth on the side edges. Don't chew up the straw, but do flatten it enough to look like #3. The middle #2 is not flattened enough. Make sure the whole half of the short part is flattened, not just the very tip.

Concentrate your teeth on the side edges. Don't chew up the straw, but do flatten it enough to look like #3. The middle #2 is not flattened enough. Make sure the whole half of the short part is flattened, not just the very tip

STEP 2

On the flattened end, cut the "reeds" which will vibrate and make the notes.

Your scissors must be sharp because you will be cutting through two layers of plastic. The red lines in the illustrations show cutting paths. Only the reeds in #3 will work. Another way to think about how to cut the flattened end of the straw is to think, "Cut it like the end of a pencil." If you cut the reed wrong the first time, you don't have to throw away the straw. Just re-cut it.

When you are satisfied you have it right, cut off a tiny part of the sharp point, as shown. The reeds might stick together where the cuts were made. Just squeeze them a little, and they will separate. Take a look at the reeds. They should be close, but not touching.

STEP 3

Test the reeds.

Put the reed end of the straw in your mouth, slightly past your lips so the reeds can vibrate. Blow air into the straw--hard! You should here a sound like a duck call. Notice that you can make the note (pitch) a little higher by blowing harder, but you still can't really play a tune.

If you do not get sound, vary how hard you blow air into the straw first. If that doesn't work, look at the space between the reeds. Usually, there is too much space between the reeds, so air passes easily through the straw without vibrating the reeds. Less often, the reeds are so close they don't let any air through. Occasionally, someone presses down so hard on the straw with their lips or teeth that they close off the straw.

STEP 4

Modify the straw so it plays notes.

Although this can be done with holes in the straw that are covered and uncovered like a recorder, we will start out with a simpler method like a trombone or slide whistle.

Cut the long part of the straw right in the middle, as shown in the illustration at left. Test it now, and see how much higher the pitch is now because of the difference in pitch!

Cut a slit from one end to the other end of the short piece of straw that you cut off. Now you should be able to slide it inside the non-reed end of the other straw. By sliding it in and out we can change the length of the instrument--and therefore the pitch--like a trombone.

STEP 5

Play a tune

Nobody has tried to recruit me into a band, but I can play a recognizable rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Remember, you get the most notes by changing the length and varying how hard you blow.

Step 1

Cut the reeds as before, but don't cut the the big section of straw.

You can also change pitch by making fingering holes, as many instruments have. The best way to accomplish this is with a paper punch. I suggest you start with only one or two holes the first time, because having too many can confusing.

When you punch the holes in the straw, you will position the punch so it only uses about a third of the part that actually punches the hole (red in the illustration). The cut-out part will be doubled because you're going through two layers of straw.

There are more things you can do with the reed instrument in the "MORE ABOUT REED INSTRUMENTS" link below.

Hint: I do lots of science toymaking programs with kids. I have a recurring worry that I'll forget some crucial tool or material for one of the projects. Because the reed instrument can be done with just scissors and straws, I take it along as a backup for other projects--just in case.

MORE ABOUT REED INSTRUMENTS For explanations, activities and cool links related to reed instruments click here or on the picture.

I'd like to know how this project goes for you. I'm happy to answer questions about it. Feedback from you is an important way for me to know what works and what needs clarification.

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