A toy musical instrument with a membrane that produces a buzzing sound when a player hums or sings into the mouthpiece.
[Perhaps imitative of its sound.]
kazoo
Dictionary:
ka·zoo (kə-zū')  |
n., pl., -zoos.
A toy musical instrument with a membrane that produces a buzzing sound when a player hums or sings into the mouthpiece.
A toy musical instrument with a membrane that produces a buzzing sound when a player hums or sings into the mouthpiece.
| How Products are Made: How is a kazoo made? |
A kazoo is a type of instrument known as a mirliton, which uses a resonating membrane to amplify sound. It belongs in the percussion family of instruments and can be made in a number of ways. Derived from the ancient African mirliton, the kazoo was first manufactured during the 1800s. Today, it is primarily a plastic, toy instrument, which is fun and relatively easy to play.
The primary method of modern manufacture involves injection molding with subsequent assembly of the various pieces.
Background
A kazoo is a wind instrument unlike conventional brass and woodwind instruments. It is typically an open-ended, short tube, which is tapered at one end. Near the wider, front of the instrument there is another opening on top called the turret section, which houses a thin, resonating membrane. It has no valves or buttons typical of other instruments. In addition to these structural differences, a kazoo is also played different than conventional instruments. In brass instruments, the buzzing sound of the lips is amplified to produce the notes. In wood-wind instruments, musical notes are created by the vibration of the reed. The kazoo relies on the voice of the musician to produce the sound. When a musician plays a kazoo, he hums into it and that causes the thin film to vibrate. This vibration changes with the sound of the voice giving it the buzzing quality, which is unique to the kazoo.
History
The kazoo was most likely derived from an African instrument called the mirliton. Just like the kazoo, the mirliton has an internal membrane that creates a buzzing sound when it is played. African tribes used it as a voice disguiser during religious ceremonies. In America, a modified version of the mirliton was a popular African-American folk instrument during the 1800s.
The modern day kazoo was invented by Alabama Vest during the 1840s. He drew up the plans for the instrument and had it made by a clockmaker named Thaddeus Von Clegg. In 1852, they demonstrated their kazoo at the Georgia State Fair, and it became a popular instrument in that region. In the early 1900s, a method for large-scale kazoo manufacture was developed by Emil Sorg and Michael McIntyre. McIntyre later started selling kazoos in 1914 and received a patent on the process in 1923. He went on to found the Original American Kazoo Company which is still in operation today. Later, the plastic kazoo was developed and it is now the standard material from which most kazoos are made.
Raw Materials
Kazoos are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. The body of the instrument can be made from numerous materials including plastic, metal, wood, and glass. Of these materials, plastic is most commonly used. Plastics are high molecular weight polymers produced through various chemical reactions. Most kazoos are made from thermoplastics, which are more rigid and durable. Different types of plastics used to make the body of a kazoo include polypropylene and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). To make these materials easier to work with, fillers, which change the properties of the plastic, are often added. These fillers can make the plastic more rigid, more light-weight, and make them less prone to breaking. For decorative purposes, colorants may be added to the plastic to change the appearance of the kazoo. Typically, the plastic is supplied to the kazoo manufacturers as pellets complete with all the filler and colorants already added.
Although plastic is the most often used material, higher priced kazoos are manufactured with metal. These kazoos are usually stainless steel, but silver and gold kazoos have also been produced. While wood and glass kazoos were popular during the late 1800s, they are rarely made today due to their relatively higher cost and difficulty of manufacture.
The resonating membrane is made from materials, which have special characteristics. The materials are thin and flexible to help maximize resonance. They are also resistant to tearing. Wax paper was the material of choice when the first kazoos were made. However, wax paper proved to be unreliable because it often breaks over time. Currently, an advanced silicone plastic is used.
Design
The most critical part in the kazoo manufacturing process is designing the mold. A mold is a cavity carved into steel. When liquid plastic or molten metal is poured into the mold, it takes on the mold's shape when it cools. During manufacture, the mold cavity is highly polished because any flaw on the surface will be reproduced on the plastic. A two piece mold is used to make kazoo parts. The mold pieces are joined together to form the cavity in which the plastic part is formed and opened to release it. Special release agents help make the parts easier to remove. Also, a slight taper in the mold design aids in removal. Steel molds are highly precise and can produce exact parts each time. When molds are designed however, they must be made slightly larger to compensate for the fact that the plastic part shrinks as it cools.
The typical kazoo is composed of three parts including the main body, the turret section, and a resonating membrane. The kazoo's main body is responsible for providing a playing surface and amplifying the sound. While the main body is typically made in the shape of a tapered tube, it can actually take on almost any shape as long as it is opened on both ends. There are kazoos shaped like bugles, while others look like trumpets or saxophones. The turret section houses the resonating membrane. This section is typically a round piece, which fits into a hole on the main body. The resonating membrane is the heart of the kazoo. It is a thin film, which vibrates as sound passes by. The vibration results in a buzz, which changes the sound emitted from the instrument.
The Manufacturing
Process
The manufacture of kazoos has changed very little since the early 1900s. They are still made by a step by step procedure which involves injection molding of the pieces, fitting the pieces together, decorating the kazoo, and putting the finished product in packaging. The major change has been in the type of materials that are used.
Molding
- At the start of kazoo manufacture, plastic pellets are transformed into kazoo parts via injection molding. The pellets are first put into the hopper of the injection-molding machine. They pass through a hydraulically controlled screw and are melted. As the screw turns, the melted plastic is funneled through a nozzle and physically injected into the mold. Before injection, the two halves of the mold are brought together to form a cavity which has the shape of the kazoo part. Inside the mold, the plastic is held under pressure for a set amount of time and then allowed to cool. As it cools, the plastic inside hardens. After a short while, the mold halves are opened and the kazoo part is pushed out. The mold then closes again and the process begins again. Metal kazoos are stamped from metal sheets and then the two halves are assembled together.
- After the kazoo parts are ejected from the mold, they are manually inspected to ensure that no significantly damaged parts are used. The damaged parts are set aside to be remelted and reformed into new kazoo parts.
Assembly of parts
- The kazoo parts are then transported to an assembly line. In this phase of production, the resonating membrane is first glued to the turret section. This membrane may be supplied to the manufacturer as a pre-cut film or as a large, continuous sheet. After the turret section and membrane are attached, they can be snapped or glued onto the appropriate hole of the main body. At this point, the kazoo is in working order.
Labeling
- Since kazoos are often sold as toys or advertising specialty items, they are typically decorated with a logo or design. Decoration is applied by either direct labeling or silk screening. Direct labeling involves simply sticking a label on the body of the kazoo. Silk screening is a process, which uses a machine to print colored ink right on the kazoo. The machine consists of a series of rollers and plates, which are dipped in ink. When a kazoo is passed through the machine, the ink is transferred from the plates to the body of the kazoo. The ink is specially formulated so that it dries before the kazoo exits the machine.
Packaging
- After all the decorations have been set, the kazoos are put in their final packaging. This can be a small box with an instruction booklet included or a plastic blister pack with a cardboard backing. The package serves the dual purpose of protecting the kazoo from damage caused by shipping and advertising the product. The kazoo packages are put into cases and transferred to a pallet. The pallets are then loaded on trucks and the kazoos are shipped to local distributors.
Quality Control
The quality of the kazoo parts are checked during each phase of manufacture. Since thousands of parts are made daily, complete inspection is very difficult. Consequently, line inspectors may randomly check the plastic parts at fixed time intervals and check to ensure they meet size, shape, and consistency specifications. This sampling method gives a good indication of the quality of the overall kazoo production run. Visual inspection is the primary test method. Things that are checked for include deformed parts, improperly fitted parts, and inappropriate labeling. In addition to these checks, more rigorous measurements can also be performed. Measuring equipment is used to check the length, width and thickness of each part. Typically, devices such as a vernier caliper, a micrometer, or a microscope are used. Each of these differ in accuracy and application.
The Future
The future improvements in kazoo manufacture will focus on improving quality, growing sales, and increasing output. To improve quality, future kazoos will be made with better plastics. For example the resonating film will be more durable and less prone to breakage. To grow sales, manufacturers will likely develop kazoos that have unique designs. For example, they may design a kazoo to tie in with a popular character from an animated movie. In manufacturing, improvements may be made which would reduce the number of parts required to make a kazoo. One process that has potential application in this area is the use of ultraviolet (UV) curable plastics. These plastics rely on UV light to solidify and can be used to make parts without the use of injection molding. Other improvements will focus making the production process more automated and increasing production speeds.
Where to Learn More
Books
Seymour, R. and C. Carraher. Polymer Chemistry. New York: Marcel Dekker Inc., 1992.
Chabot, J. F. The Development of Plastics Processing Machinery and Methods. Brook-field, IL: Society of Plastics Engineers, 1992.
Stewart, Barbara. How to Kazoo. Workman Publishing Co., 1983.
Other
Berghash, R. and D. Jachimowicz. U.S. Patent #4832653.
The Original American Kazoo Company, 8703 South Main Street, Eden, New York 14057.(716)992-3960.
[Article by: Perry Romanowski]
| Music Encyclopedia: Kazoo |
An instrument which amplifies the voice, imparting a buzzing, rasping quality to it (a ‘singing membrane’). Manufactured in the USA since c 1850, it was used in early jazz ensembles but is now often regarded as a toy. It consists of a cigar-shaped metal or plastic tube with a flattened opening at one end, a smaller, circular opening at the other, and a circular disc of membrane over a hole on top: as the performer sings or hums into it the membrane vibrates.
| Wikipedia: Kazoo |
 |
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (April 2009) |
The kazoo is a wind instrument with a "buzzing" timbral quality to a player's voice when one vocalizes into it. The kazoo is a type of mirliton – a device which modifies the sound of a person's voice by way of a vibrating membrane.
Contents |
Playing
While blowing is the term typically used to describe the technique required to play a kazoo, a more accurate term would be talking into the kazoo. Blowing with your lips closed around the mouthpiece of the kazoo will not make sound – you must vibrate air from your lungs by talking in to the instrument in order for the kazoo to make any sound. Increased air flow and harder blowing will result in a more effective and authoritative sound.
History
Such instruments have been used in Africa for hundreds of years, to disguise the sound of somebody's voice or to imitate animals, often for various ceremonial purposes. It was on such an instrument that the kazoo, invented in the 19th century by an African American named Alabama Vest in Macon, Georgia, United States, is based. The first kazoo was manufactured to Vest's specifications by Thaddeus von Clegg, a German clockmaker in Macon. The kazoo was first publicized at the Georgia State Fair in 1852. The first metal kazoos were manufactured and patented in Eden, New York, where they are still made in the original factory.
Professional usage
The Kazoo was first brought into the public eye by a magician named J P Kalaam. He was fascinated by strange instruments and encountered the kazoo while in Africa. His kazoos were all made of wood. The kazoo is played professionally in jug bands and comedy music, and by amateurs everywhere. It is one of the few acoustic instruments to be developed in the United States and one of the easiest melodic instruments to play well, requiring only the ability to vocalize in tune. In North East England and South Wales, kazoos play an important role in so-called juvenile jazz bands (really children's marching bands). During Carnival the kazoo is routinely used in the Carnival of Cádiz and the Murga in Uruguay.
In the Original Dixieland Jass Band 1921 recording of "Crazy Blues", what the casual listener might mistake for a trombone solo is actually a kazoo solo by drummer Tony Sbarbaro. The Mound City Blue Blowers had a number of hit kazoo records in the early 1920s. The Mound City Blue Blowers featured Dick Slevin on metal kazoo and Red McKenzie on comb-and-tissue-paper kazoo. The vocaphone, a kind of kazoo with a trombone-like tone, was occasionally featured in Paul Whiteman's Orchestra. Trombonist-vocalist Jack Fulton played it on Whiteman's recording of "Vilia" (1931) and Frankie Trumbauer's "Medley of Isham Jones Dance Hits" (1932). The vocal group The Mills Brothers originally started in vaudeville as a kazoo quartet, playing four-part harmony on kazoo with one brother accompanying them on guitar.
The kazoo is not often found in European classical music, a rare exception being David Bedford's With 100 Kazoos, a piece which emphasizes the simplicity of the instrument—rather than being played by trained musicians, kazoos are handed out to members of the audience, who accompany a professional instrumental ensemble.
Leonard Bernstein included a segment for kazoo ensemble in the First Introit (Rondo) of his Mass (theatre). The kazoos are played by the boy's choir.
The kazoo is called for in Frank Loesser's score for the 1961 Broadway musical comedy How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. It appears as part of the instrumental accompaniment played by the orchestra: several instruments provide the sound effect of electric razors being used in the executive washroom, during a dance reprise of the ballad "I Believe in You".
Right after each refrain in the Pink Floyd song "Corporal Clegg" a kazoo is played, contributing to the military march-like feel of the song.
The kazoo was used in the 1990 Koch International and 2007 Naxos Records recordings of American classical composer Charles Ives' "Yale-Princeton Football Game", where the kazoo chorus represents the football crowd's cheering. The brief passages have the kazoo chorus sliding up and down the scale as the cheering rises and falls.
A kazoo solo is featured in Jesse Fuller's 1962 recording of his song "San Francisco Bay Blues"[1], as well as in Eric Clapton's 1992 recording of the song on MTV's Unplugged television show and album.
One of the best known kazooists in recent times might be Barbara Stewart. She was a classically trained singer who has written a book on the kazoo[1], formed the "quartet" Kazoophony, and performed at Carnegie Hall. She appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Short performances of kazoo music is included on many modern recordings, usually for comic effect. For example, in Frank Zappa's first album, Freak Out!, he used the kazoo for adding such comic feel in some songs (including one of his best known, Hungry Freaks, Daddy).
In the song “Crosstown Traffic”, from the album Electric Ladyland, Jimi Hendrix used a kazoo made of comb and paper acompanying the guitar to accentuate a blown-out speaker sound for which he was looking.
The Avett Brothers feature a kazoo towards the end of the instrumental song "The D Bag Rag."
Records
On November 16, 1985 about 35,000 fans attending a Vanderbilt University football game in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, were given a kazoo as they entered the stadium and they claim to have broken the world record with a half-time performance of "Elvira".[2]
On December 31, 2006 at 11:40 p.m. the Guinness world record for the world's largest kazoo ensemble was broken with a new record of 2,679 participants in Rochester, New York, USA, on the Main Street Bridge.[3]
On Thursday, September 27, 2007, the American city of Macon, Georgia went for the world record for the world's largest kazoo ensemble but wasn't achieved when there were only 2,007 people attending the event.[citation needed]
On Saturday, November 17, 2007, spectators at the American Bob Jones University Turkey Bowl broke the Guinness world record for the world's largest kazoo ensemble with an unofficial 3,800[4] members, all buzzing to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for over five minutes.
On April 3, 2008, the live tour of the Radio 4 show I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue attempted to break the record with 3550 people in attendance at the Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK.[5] Confirmation from Guinness World Records is pending.
On July 2, 2008, an Evangelical Free Church of America Youth Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA broke the old Guinness World Record of 3,800 people with 5,300 buzzing to the song of Amazing Grace for 5 minutes[citation needed].
See also
Notes
- ^ Peter Siegel, liner notes to Friends of Old Time Music (Smithsonian Folkways, SFW40160) (link)
- ^ http://vucommodores.cstv.com/genrel/110106aaa.html
- ^ www.democratandchronicle.com
- ^ Orlando, Ali (November 30, 2007). "Turkey Bowl spectators, participants attempted to break world record". The Collegian (Bob Jones University) 21 (11). http://www.bju.edu/collegian/index.php?issue=84&article=838.
- ^ entertainment.timesonline.co.uk
References
- Lombardi, Fabio, 2000, Canti e strumenti popolari della Romagna Bidentina, Società Editrice "Il Ponte Vecchio", Cesena
- Guizzi, Febo, 2002, Gli strumenti della musica popolare in Italia. Invaluable survey of popular instruments in use in Italy, ranging from percussion,wind and plucked instruments to various noise makers. Numerous drawings and plates. Wrappers. - Lucca : Alia Musica, 8. - 502 p. ISBN 88-7096-325-x
- Lombardi, Fabio, 1989, Mostra di strumenti musicali popolari romagnoli : Meldola Teatro Comunale G. A. Dragoni, 26-29 agosto 1989; raccolti da Fabio Lombardi nella vallata del bidente, Comuni di: Bagno di Romagna, S. Sofia, Meldola, Galeata, Forli, Civitella diR. e Forlimpopoli ; presentazione Roberto Leydi. - Forli : Provincia di Forli, 1989. - 56 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. In testa al front.: Provincia di Forli, Comune di Meldola.
- McGlynn, Don, 1986, The Mills Brothers Story, VHS, Kultur Videos.
External links
- Kazooco, kazoo museum and historic manufacturer
- Eden, NY, home of Kazooco
- "This is a kazoo!" Captain Kazoo: The world's largest private kazoo collection. More history, including details on the mirliton.
- List of pop kazoo performances including Eric Clapton, The Kinks, and Pink Floyd.
- Kazoo Links Kazoo information and links
- kazooka, Manufacturer of electric kazoos
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
| Translations: Kazoo |
Dansk (Danish)
n. - kazoo, slags støjinstrument
Nederlands (Dutch)
kazoo (soort fluitje)
Français (French)
n. - mirliton
Deutsch (German)
n. - Blasinstrument aus Rohr und einer Darmsaite
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - καζού, είδος πνευστού μουσικού οργάνου
Italiano (Italian)
kazoo (piccolo strumento musicale)
Português (Portuguese)
n. - espécie de instrumento (m) de brinquedo
Русский (Russian)
казу, игрушечный духовой инструмент
Español (Spanish)
n. - tipo de chicharra (instrumento)
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - kazoo (mus.), ända
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
一种木制或金属制玩具笛子
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 一種木製或金屬製玩具笛子
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) أداة لها غشاء يصدر صوت عند التكلم فيها
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - כלי נגינה - צינור עם קרומים ונקבים לעיוות קול הזמר
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 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| How Products are Made. How Products are Made. Copyright © 2002 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Music Encyclopedia. The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved. Read more |
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Mentioned in
- wazoo
- Frisco Bound (1968 Album by Jesse Fuller)
- Kazoo Christmas (1998 Album by Kickin' Kazoos)
- Harps, Jugs, Washboards & Kazoos: 1926-1940 (1926 Album by Various Artists)
- bazooka
- Jug band (music)
- Early Ears Three (1993 Album by Early Ears)
- Don't Tampa with the Blues (1961 Album by Tampa Red)
- membranophone
- Brandon Schott (Rock Artist, 2000s)
- Buddy Burton (Jazz Artist, '20s, '30s)
- Washboard Rhythm Kings, Vol. 5 (1930 Album by Washboard Rhythm Kings)
- Blues: Slide Guitar Wizard, Chicago 1931-1946 (2004 Album by Tampa Red)
- The Happy Jazz of Rex Stewart (1960 Album by Rex Stewart)
