• Students will discover a new way to create music.

• Students will gain knowledge about Australian aboriginal music and the people of Australia.

• Students will build a didgeridoo.

• One 3-3 1/2 foot segment of 1 1/4" of PVC pipe per student; or stiff cardboard tubes such as wrapping paper tubes

• Beeswax  - enough to cover  the circumference of one end of PVC pipe as a mouthpiece

• Acrylic paints - various colors

• Paint brushes - various sizes

• Daubing instruments to create patterns on the pipe

• Sandpaper - fine grit

• String, leather, beads, feathers, and any other objects lying around to be used to add to the decorations of the didgeridoo

Introduce this lesson by playing aboriginal music for students.  Suggestions are: Yothu Yindi, Adam Plack,  or Nomad.  Allowing them to hear the distinct tones of the aboriginal instruments will peak their interest in making one.

Bring in pictures of various didgeridoos.  Discuss what they are made of and why. (They are made of eucalyptus wood that has been hollowed out by termites.) Be sure to have students closely examine the distinct artwork that covers the instruments. 

Speak specifically about the didgeridoo and its history. The following is a great Web site for history:  Didjeridu History 

Making the didgeridoo:

1.  Sand both ends of the PVC pipe for safe use.

2.   Decorate the PVC pipe or  the cardboard tubes with acrylic paint.  To ensure the paint sticks to the PVC pipe, it will be necessary to lightly rough up the surface. 

3.   Encourage students to copy the patterns and pictures from the pictures they have seen on other examples.  They could also invent patterns of their own, including Australian animals that they like.

4.  Glue bits of stone, shell, beach glass, etc. to decorate the didgeridoo.  (optional)

5. When the paint is dry, begin making the wax mouthpiece.

6. Heat the beeswax in a double boiler.  Suggestion: Use a coffee can instead of a pan as the double boiler so the pan is not ruined.

7.  When the wax is soft enough to mold, but NOT MELTED,  have the children roll out a piece into a "fat gummy worm" - long enough so it will fit around the circumference of the mouthpiece (one end of the pipe).

8.   Gently mold the wax around one end of the PVC pipe.  Let cool.

9.  You are ready to play!  Put your mouth on the mouthpiece and make a loose buzzing noise with your lips.

If PVC pipe is not available, these instruments can be easily made using cardboard tubes.  They will be less durable, and will need a more gentle touch.  Note that using different lengths and widths of the PVC pipe will produce different sounds.

If you can find someone in your community who plays the didgeridoo, invite them in to play for the students and teach them a few things about blowing into the instrument.  While it seems easy, it does take practice to make the tone.

Also, for the older students, a quiz could easily be produced on the history of the didgeridoo or a myth could be read to supplement the discussion. Please see the fourth Web site (listed below) to select an appropriate myth.

Didgeridoings: How to Make and Play a Didgeridoo : Provides specific instructions about making a PVC didgeridoo. Includes links to make the didgeridoo in specific keys.  Instructs on how to play the didgeridoo too.  Also provides pictures and examples of didgeridoos and the artwork that covers them. Educators, please note this site contains advertisements.

Phil's Didgeridoo Page : Offers links about didgeridoos and samples of music. Has an online didgeridoo lesson with sound samples.

Dreamtime: the Didjeridu  W3 Server : Large gallery of didgeridoos, playing types, myths, and legends about how the digeridoo came to be. Also includes a technical corner for building and repairing didgeridoos.  (The best non-commercial site about didgeridoos.)  Packed with information. 

• Computer(s)
• Internet Connection
• Internet Web Browser

• Students could design a didgeridoo on paper.  

Gifted Students :

• Read a myth on the didgeridoo - retell it for the class. (Myths are available online).

• Student could write a short quiz for other students that highlights the main ideas behind a didgeridoo and its history.