This volume has thus far avoided descriptions of noise producing instruments, even suggesting sound deadening effects whenever possible. The young male of the species cannot be denied in this matter over long, however, and there comes a time and tide in his affairs when he will improvise his own charivari unless sidetracked by some milder form of sound invention.

Less harrowing than the raucous vibrations beat out upon a dishpan or pail with spoons, knives, or sticks, are the relatively muted throbbings of a tom-tom. One of the easiest and smallest to improvise results when the top of a round, oatmeal carton is glued back in place. The cylindrical body can be colored with tempora, crayons, colored construction paper, or magazine cutouts.

African Tom-Tom

A more substantial model can be produced by covering the open end of an empty nail keg with a piece of inner tube. The top, iron hoop at the open end of the keg is removed, and the inner tubing tacked down tightly well below the line where the lower edge of the hoop rested. The hoop is then replaced and fastened with short nails or screws through holes drilled through the hoop into each stave. Excess rubber is trimmed off below the hoop. Youthful rumba players will welcome bright, primitive decorations.

Rumba rattles are easily made by pouring a dozen or so pebbles, beans, or BB shot into an oatmeal carton before gluing its top back on. A stick whittled from an orange crate can be forced through both sides for a handle, and held in place for a reasonable time with Scotch tape. Here again, splashes of bright color will add the necessary professional touch.

Pull Toy

For tiny tots the handle of the rumba rattle is omitted, and the pebble or shot-filled carton is pieced in the centers of both circular ends for a looped cord, which serves as both axle and puller. A thin dowel will serve as a more efficient axle. The latter should be long enough to extend about an inch outside each end, so that a groove can be whittled for the looped pull string, or pieces of adhesive tape wound around the ends to hold the string in place. Add plenty of decoration.

Flutter tubes have been teacher-annoyers among school boys as far back as some of us care to remember. They are made for the home band by rolling moderately stiff paper around a pencil from one corner to the opposite corner, to form a slim tube. The final corner can be held in place with a drop of mucilage or a bit of Scotch tape. This will leave triangular ends, one of which is snipped fractionally on both edges at right angles to the axis of the tube, so that the triangle can be bent downward over the tube end. The other triangle is snipped off even with the tube end, to form a mouthpiece. The bent-down triangle will flutter with an audible buzzing sound over the tube end, when air is inhaled and exhaled at the mouthpiece. Some adjustment of the flutter valve may be necessary for succeful operation.

Good for the lungs and is not loud.