carlton-temple Posted April 11, 2009 Report Posted April 11, 2009 This request may not be exactly "scientific" rather more "technological": Here's the problem. Up here in the French mountains the local villages every six years make a carnival wagon, the best of which wins a prize. Our village has been given as theme one of La Fontaine's fables about a bunch of capitalistic honey bees and a load of hornets who want a rake of, right. The wagons no problem to decorate nor dressing up ten small children (6yrs) from our local school. But the children have to Bzzzzzzz and Bzzzzzz and Bzzzzzzzzz, of course much loader than the kids from the other villages. How do we make Bzzzzzers !We have approached the University of analytical chemistry in Leuwarden (n.Holland) and they go all electronic, what we want is something the children can blow, turn, or shake, ideally with different pitches so that they could play a "bee tune" ? Please help, France needs you, don't forget the statue of liberty we gave you in your hour of need ! P.S. This fable has been a grammatical pain in the neck for generations of small French children, though much loved by perverted teachers ! Quote
freeztar Posted April 13, 2009 Report Posted April 13, 2009 I recommend a kazoo or a trombone (maybe french horn) mouthpiece. :phones: Quote
carlton-temple Posted April 13, 2009 Author Report Posted April 13, 2009 Many thanks Freeztzar for your suggestion, I had never heard of a "Kazoo". I looked up kazoo on the internet and the price would seem acceptable to the "committee", unfortunately the articles were a little unclear on what volume of noise it makes but as I have to be in Brussels soon I will find out for myself, once again thanks for the tip. :phones: Quote
freeztar Posted April 13, 2009 Report Posted April 13, 2009 No problem Carlton, hopefully my suggestion helps! :phones: I've been thinking about it a bit more and the only way to increase the volume without electronics (that I can think of right now) is to project the audio source through funnels (cones). This way, a kazoo can have much more impact. Ideally, I would recommend having the kids position their cones at odd angles, but still facing the crowd. With enough kids, armed with kazoos, all bzzzzzz'ing at the same time, it should make for a nice and loud "swarm" sound. In any case, let me know how it turns out. Quote
carlton-temple Posted April 13, 2009 Author Report Posted April 13, 2009 Freeztar. I found an American company via google called, wait for it, Kazobie-Kazoos, would you believe it, any way I've sent them an e-mail re payment postage ect. We'll have to look into your amplification idea, can't do much for a couple of weeks as the kids are on holiday but will let you know how they get on "kazooing" plus a photo. There is an idea lurking about that the children might even learn to play the Marseillaise, if that doesn't bring the house down nothing will ! Quote
freeztar Posted April 13, 2009 Report Posted April 13, 2009 I find it slightly amusing/surprising that the kazoo is not well known in Europe, or rural France at least. It's a fun instrument. The kids are sure to love it! BUT, if you plan on getting any kind of pitched sound from the masses, good luck! The kazoo is basically a "hum amplifier". Perfect for getting children to make a "swarming" bee hive sound, but a poor choice for a symphony. They're so cheap though, that I would really be disappointed if you did not at least allow the children to have fun with them. :hihi: Kazoo's are pretty versatile too! YouTube - Mound City Blue Blowers: San http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DlbWzawHV8 EDIT: Found this little gem on youtube YouTube - The Worlds Largest Kazoo Band http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62MPO9rHep0 Skip to 4:00 (four minute marker) for the good stuff. The "band leader" buzzes his kazoo while tuning the audience (to what sounds like an E-major chord) on his guitar. He comments that "it sounds like I'm about to be attacked by bumblebees". :smilingsun: With proper megaphones, the non-electric competition does not stand a chance. :phones: Quote
carlton-temple Posted July 7, 2009 Author Report Posted July 7, 2009 Freeztar. I promise not to tell the local French police giving kazoos to our village children was you idea. Last Thursday was the end of term and my wife who teaches art to the little horrors doled out 30 kazoos to round of the term; the noise was awful ! I'm not sure if the resulting cacophony sounded like tormented bees or the background effects of one of Hitchkock's murder films; and the carnival parade has yet to come ! :doh: Quote
freeztar Posted July 9, 2009 Report Posted July 9, 2009 :hihi: Well, you could always market it as "killer" bees... Good luck! Quote
Turtle Posted July 9, 2009 Report Posted July 9, 2009 i missed this thread when it came out & i hope this is not too late. :hihi: i suggest spiinning disks on strings. :hihi: make the edges of the disks notched to make a buzzing sound. this is at least a midevil toy and at most one of the earliest human toys at all. here's a thread with instructions in the first post and full of history and other trivia on the device: >> http://hypography.com/forums/physics-and-mathematics/1228-spinning-button-on-a-string.html Quote
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