Make a Zurna!

In the northern African countries such as Morocco, a double reed instrument is played. American children who listen to recordings think it sounds like snake charmer music. Or the duck in Peter and the Wolf.  The European Rennaissance shawm is similar, as is the oboe and bassoon found in the western orchestra. You can use that plastic drinking straw you were going to throw away and make a zurna of your own. Impress your friends and really annoy your relatives!
 
 
1.Pinch flat one end of your straw and cut it as shown. [sorry! I haven't posted the pictures yet - meanwhile, this is a good link ]Some people think a flat end works best. Others like a pointy end. 2.Try to get a sound out by holding the "reeds" in your mouth and blowing so that they vibrate. This is the hardest part. You will hear a buzzing sound.  If you are having a hard time, make your straw shorter... it's easier with a shorter straw.
3. Now experiment with your instrument. How can you get it to play more than one note? Which is easier to play?  4. When I worked for the Smithsonian, I spent two weeks developing my own special invention. Of course I call it the Bradyphone.
5. I am told that in parts of Africa, musicians fix up their instruments in different ways. Some zurnas have rattles or bells attached.  6. One variation uses a disk at the mouth and the player blows against the disk. Two instruments can be played at once this way. I've been working on this and sometimes I can get two to make a sound. But I can't play different notes at the same time.
 ****Note to teachers: Link to a webpage from Rutgers on world music, which has a great lesson plan. They use the term "non-Euro-centric" which makes my eyes cross, but despite that, it's even better than this page.

If you come up with a fancy zurna, please send me e-mail to tell me about it.
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