When I lived in Bangladesh (in South Asia, next to India) I was intrigued as much by the musical instrument the snake charmers played as I was by the snakes.
I was so taken with the snake charmer's instrument that I bought one. How could an instrument made only of bamboo and a hollow gourd--held together with wax--produce such an exotic sound? I set about some research and discovered the motley reed family of instruments. Saxophones, harmonicas, accordions, bagpipes, clarinets, snake charmer’s pipes and even duck calls (ergo the attention-getting name "snake charmer's duck call") all use "reeds" to make music. And so can you!
INSTRUCTIONS
For illustrated instructions for making reed instrument from
a straw click here or on the picture. |
MORE ABOUT REED INSTRUMENTS
For explanations, activities and cool links related to reed
instruments click here or on the picture. |
Back to the science toymaker home page. |