The Tube Kazoo

The tube kazoo is great for learning breath control and pitch technique and actually making it is good for coordination skills.

Here's what you'll need:

• a strong cardboard tube from a kitchen or bathroom roll
• wax paper
• an elastic band

Here's how you make it:

Fix the wax paper to one end of the tube and fasten tight with the elastic band around the tube.  Make a hole halfway up the tube (this makes playing it much easier as it lets the air escape).

How you play it:

Hum through the open end of the tube with your teeth apart, and lips slightly open.  This will make a great buzzing sound that will match the pitch of the tune you are humming.

This instrument is great for playing along to music as it is easy to pitch and makes an interesting sound.  You can experiment with using different lengths of tube for this instrument - the card tube from a roll of wrapping paper is particularly effective.

Idea from Music Makes Your Child Smarter by Philip Sheppard