European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 22, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Blowhards i rejoice the Kazoo is making a comeback by Lindsey Gruson the new York times t is said hat a Kazoo is to music what a full body cast is to Ballet. But in the one stoplight town of Eden n.y., the rasp of the Kazoo is a Sweet serenade the Magna Carta and Constitution of musical democracy. That s because Eden is the Home of Quot the one and Only original Kazoo company inc.,&Quot the world s Only remaining factory for Metal kazoos a the Stradivarius of kazoos. Quot it s the most democratic of All instruments Quot said David Berghash the president of brims a manufacturer of toys health and Beauty aids and the Kazoo company s Parent. Quot without a doubt it s the most american of All instruments because everyone can the Kazoo which a few years ago appeared to be going the Way of the Hula hoop has made something of a comeback. Berghash said the company which with 11 workers is one of the town s largest employers annually ships 2 million to 3 million Metal kazoos. Quot it been around for 100 years and i think it s going to be around for another 100,h Berghash said. Quot it s like plastic dinosaurs and Matchbox cars a one of those steady toys that la be around musicologists and music lovers particularly parents May dismiss kazoos As a child s toy or More Likely Akin to inviting the neighbourhood menace into their Home to spend a few hours running his fingernails Down a blackboard. But kazoos had an important role in blues and jazz at the turn of the Century and horrifying As it May seem or sound some still consider them serious instruments. Ringo Starr played the Kazoo on the 1974 top of the charts classic you re 16. The Kazoo s distinctive Buzz also added to musical interludes on recordings by the lovin spoonful and Brooklyn Bridge. And country music which has a traditional twang that seems Well suited to kazoos has produced notable Kazoo its such As Jimmie Rodgers and Gene Autry. The Kazoo has yet to carve out much of a role in classical music. But Leonard Bernstein did use a Kazoo in his concert celebrating the dedication of the David Berghash with some of the products of the american Kazoo factory. Not Kennedy Center in Washington. The Kazoo Nony an ensemble that is the current Maestro of symphonic Kazo oing has pushed Bernstein s musical envelope in performances with the Syracuse symphony the Tulsa philharmonic and the san Antonio symphony. Set up 20 years ago in the Shadow of Eastman school of music in Rochester n.y., Kazo phony Aims to make Kazoo playing recognized As an Art form. The group started As the 80-piece Ludak Ravian philharmonic recalled Barbara Stewart the group s founder in her seminal work How to Kazoo the Complete method Book. But budget cuts soon reduced the orchestra to the six members of what they Call Quot the world s largest Quot they Are absolutely fantastic Quot said Berghash a non practising flautist who with his wife a French Horn player makes up a two person chamber orchestra. But two Young children have forced them to give up their Home to big Bird serenades Quot they really make Nice music and i be heard a lot a whole lot of Kazoo its a people like myself who sound like fingers screeching Down a the key to Good Kazoo playing is the fundamental Rule of All Good musicianship precise technique and practice practice practice a far far away from the neighbors. Stewart also instructs her students to keep their lips soft and flexible articulate clearly produce vibrato in even pulses and hit perfect pitch. But anyone who can do All that is probably a pretty Good vocalist for them the Kazoo is a muzzle. Although overlooked by music stores a which May explain Why so Many go bankrupt a the Kazoo is probably America s most popular instrument. There Are an estimated 15,000 Kazoo bands in the country. And even a couple of orchestras. Quot my generation loved kazoos but the baby Boom generation hardly knew what they were Quot said Shirley Keller a machinist at the factory who usually keeps four Kazoo rejects in her purse As emergency gifts for her friends and 14 grandchildren. Quot i m hoping our new packaging and distribution will introduce a new generation to the fun of but children buy no More than half the kazoos sold much to the Surprise of the hundreds of visitors who annually tour the factory three blocks South of the stoplight in this Village in Western new York about 20 Miles South of Buffalo. Elderly Kazoo its Are at least the second largest segment of the Market Berghash said. Shrines like Kazoo and kazoos Are particularly popular in the South especially Florida Texas and Louisiana As Well As in Japan and Germany. Quot it s a great get together Quot Keller said in explaining the Kazoo s Appeal. Quot instead of one person playing the piano while everyone else sleeps they re All in it. They Don t have to go to music school. They put it in their Mouths and hum. And sure enough they re playing an instrument. Before you know it they re All laughing and singing but there Are other reasons to buy a Kazoo if not to play it. In the Letterman esque list of top 10 secondary uses for the Kazoo compiled by Stewart no. 10 is Quot to Lead cavalry charges in military units without butlers Quot no. 2 is Quot to replace stolen Hood ornaments on Rolls royces Quot and no. 1, the top secondary use of a Kazoo is Quot to snuff out Security rules set by the Faa q a i would to to know Why to in Usa eur Ere required to of Ometete this so celled Security form when mailing packages through the military postal system As fares i can determine we Are the Only ones required to do this. Packages mailed to us from the United states do not require this form. What Are we second class citizens Over Hare in the states anyone can walk in and mall a package to anywhere in the world no questions asked. Here in Usa eur Only personnel with a valid identification card which must be presented May use the mail system. Why Are we considered Likely to Send a bomb through the mail and not those in the United states this whole thing seems to be total discrimination against those Here in Usa eur. I personally resent having my integrity or patriotism questioned. Either this requirement should apply to All users of the . Postal system worldwide or it should be stopped immediately. Jerry r. Lambert bad Kreuz Nach Ger Manyim Barbara Lutz postal service analyst . Army postal group Europe replies we understand your frustration with this new requirement. It does t seem fair that military personnel in Europe should have to undergo More scrutiny for their packages than someone mailing one in the United states. The military postal service Agency Mes which oversees military mail for All branches of sen ice gave us the following response Quot the memorandum of agreement Between the Federal aviation administration Faa and the department of defense Dod outlined eight measures to ensure Security of mail. One of these measures is to have authorized patrons Complete a log or form which serves to make patrons aware that they Are responsible for knowing the Content of what they Are mailing. This required measure is necessary to deter the introduction of explosives into the military mail and to help safeguard passengers using the same commercial flight that moves military we cannot say Why the Faa Felt this requirement was necessary for patrons overseas and not patrons in the United states. All services received notice of this requirement three Days before it went into effect. We re sorry for the Lack of warning Given to our Apo users and any inconvenience to our customers. If we can be of further assistance please Contact us at Dan 379-7837/7643 or write to commander . Army postal group Europe attn Teupe Page Ops unit 29301, Apo a 09186. Readers action line which appears mondays and wednesdays strives to answer questions about life in a military environment. If you Don t know where to turn for help write. Readers action line a othe stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. All letters must be 6lgned. Please include address and phone number. The star5 and stripes monday february 22, 1993
