The Science of Music:
A Home Made Kazoo

Investigate sound with your child by creating a kazoo from a simple paper towel or toilet paper roll, wax paper and rubber bands. 

Start by cutting a small square of wax paper, large enough to cover the end of the paper towel roll.  Use the rubber band to attach the wax paper to one end of the tube.

Have your child hum into the open end of the tube.  This is not easy to do and very little buzzing sound is made.  Ask your child what they think can be done to create more sound.  Why is it difficult? 

The reason that it is difficult to create the buzzing sound is that there is no where for the air that you are putting into the tube to escape.  You can fix this problem by making a small hole in the side of the tube.  Now have your child hum again to see how much easier it has become.

Your child may wonder why this makes the same sound as a kazoo.  The sound is made by the vibration of the wax paper against the paper towel roll.  The small air hole allows airflow into and out of the kazoo so that the vibration can exist.