If you can hum softly – you can play a kazoo.
It’s a great first instrument because it easily builds confidence in musical ability while allowing a child or adult to recognize melodies and experiment with playing them. And a truly outrageous kazoo solo can send any child into a fit of giggles. It’s just plain fun!
How do you play a kazoo? Place your mouth to the opening and hum quietly. Avoid humming loudly or blowing into the mouthpiece, neither will give you that classic kazoo sound.
Take a bit of time to practice. It’s incredibly versatile and fun once you get the hang of just how to do it. Then what?
Here are some ideas, games and activities you can do with a kazoo!
Play Along With Your Favorite Music
Both parent and child can sound like a rock star when they play along with favorite songs and take their own solos or rock out on the melody!
Name That Tune
Parent or child play a melody on their kazoo and the other must guess what the name of the song is.
Stump The Band!
Parent or child name a song and the other must play it or lose a point/turn.
Call and Response Kazoo
Parent or child play a series of notes or a short song and the other must play it back exactly. It’s best to start with simple short musical phrases and get more complicated as the game goes on.
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Did You Know?
There is a National Kazoo Day. You can find out more about it here:
http://www.nationalkazooday.com/index.html
Tips from Serious Kazoo Players
WikiHow has a nice post with more tips for playing kazoos with kids. You can check it out here:
Reblogged this on Earl Leonard – Music for Kids and commented:
Love the kazoo! The idea that it is a great instrument to build musical confidence is brilliantly true!
Ballarat used to have a wonderful `Kazoo Orchestra’ (maybe they could re-form or you could form one in your home town). When I covered it back in the day, I used to play the solo from Bowie’s `Heroes’ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgcc5V9Hu3g) on the Kazoo, and of course the instrument was also used in the place of the bagpipes for the Meanies’ famous cover of the AC/DC classic `It’s a Long Way to the Top’ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zIo01J6pmM).
So, yes, folks: the kazoo; credible, useful, awesome.