How to make home made musical wind instruments?

Question

I am trying to make home made musical wind instruments with some kids, and have heard you can make a straw oboe - but when I try it I can't get it to make noise. If anyone has any instructions on how to make any type of wind instrument please let me know - must be able to build with children 7-10 (where they can make it themselves). Thanks :)

Answer 1

Ok, I tried it. It didn't work at all at first, but after I cut it to about 2 or 3 in., once I blew really hard, I got short bursts of noise. You really have to constrict you diaphram to do it though, so I'm sure if little chlidren would manage to blow hard enough. Ok, I just made it about an inch and now it makes a higher pitched noise and is easier to blow! So try that. With the one in, try to keep your lips tight. Hope it helped!

Answer 2

I made didgeridoos out of pvc piping once. It is an instrument native to the Australian outback. What you do is get it cut to about 3 feet. File one end at a slight angle and put beeswax on it for the lips. I used acylic paint, on both of mine, on one i painted a snake wrapping around it and the other the different phases of the moon. You should sand it down with a really light grit sand paper so it sticks.

So other then the filing, it is something the kids could decorate on their own. Then you just got to teach them how to buzz their lips to make a sound. :)

Answer 3

How bout this? http://www.mudcat.org/kids/blowers.cfm