The Next Generation

[Dan DeBruler]

Just had the opportunity to demonstrate instrument building while inciting over 100 10-year olds to greater musical heights.

 

What started as an invitation to show off a CBG to a class learning about homemade instruments, became a full-blown presentation to the entire 4th grade in multiple assemblies by the time I got there.

 

Gourd percussion instruments, CBGs, Kalimbas, and more burrowed their way into the imaginations of some really cool kids. We even built a "Altoid and Bobby Pin Kalimba" on the spot. Twice.

 

My own grandson was a class member...he brought an awesome Diddley Bow he made from a plank of wood, a coke bottle, and some welding wire. He even built in a wire hanger to store the comination slide / tuning wrench. Those apples fell real close to the tree.

 

Yeah...they'll learn if you take the time to teach.

 

[Randy S. Bretz]

Yeah seems kids are really into playing homemade instruments. I know for myself my grandkids are always in my shop playing mine. My grand daughter rosie who`s 5 wants to start building her own....lol. She already does what most of my tools are and has no problem getting dirty...so shes already off to a great start. Her older sister maddie who`s 10 is taking violin lessons in school. Guess I`m going to have to make a homemade fiddle too. Conqrats Dan for passing this gift of making something with ones own hands on to the next generation.

[Ted Crocker]

This is great Dan, nice thing to pass it on.

[Richard Stark]

Awesome Dan, more people need to be doing that! Especially in our area.

[Dan DeBruler]

Another grandson popped in last night with a similar project. He brought a cardboard box and a set of Martin strings. I talked him into making a diddley-bow with a soda can as a resonator. He marked and drilled the holes, and I put the string on.

He left with a cardboard box, a set of Martin strings, and a diddley-bow. I tossed in a homemade pick and a copper slide.