In this episode, I demonstrate three bamboo flutes inspired by the Japanese end blown notch flute called the "shakuhachi." A flute of this kind has a specially formed and shaped mouthpiece, as well as four finger holes and a thumb hole. I am not too familiar with Japanese music. Any tunes I play are original and improvised.

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In this episode, I demonstrate a "shepherd's whistle." The source of inspiration was a children's book about making simple instruments. If I remember correctly, the instructions called for a piece of bamboo. Luckily, I live in a place where bamboo is prevalent--South Florida. The whistle, or whistle flute, includes six finger holes and a thumb hole--similar to a recorder. Also, this particular instrument features an air duct assembly as part of the mouthpiece. The air duct assembly includes a square hole cut into the side of the flute. The far edge of the hole (the edge closer to the foot end of the flute) is filed and sanded into a wedge shape. There is also a plug with one side flattened in such a way as to create a wind channel with the inside of the mouthpiece. When you blow into the mouthpiece, the air stream is directed toward the far edge of the square hole. Upon hitting the edge, the air stream produces a sound. Air duct assemblies are common to penny whistles, tin whistles, toy and police whistles and flutes similar to recorders.

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In this episode, I demonstrate cross flutes I have made from bamboo tiki torches and cardboard tubes from aluminum foil rolls.Cross flutes are also called transverse flutes. Fifes are good examples. These flutes consist of hollow tubes with a sealed end and holes drilled into the side. The mouthpiece hole is positioned near the sealed end and the finger holes are located closer to the other end, or the foot of the instrument. Cross flutes are common to many cultures and countries.

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In this episode, I demonstrate how I use a paper straw, cardboard tubes and a 3D print model as simple whistles. If you blow gently over the open end of drinking water bottle, pen cap or similar object, you can often hear a pleasant sound. Musical instruments such as panpipes make use of this phenomenon.

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In this episode, I demonstrate a simple harmonica, two drinking strow oboes and a homemade bamboo clarinet. The harmonica consists of a rubber band typically used to keep broccoli florets together, two small rubber or elastic bands, two craft sticks and two pieces of a plastic drinking straw. My source of inspiration for the harmonica and straw oboes are online websites about making simple instruments with children. A website called "folk urban.com inspired me to make the clarinet. Actually, the original instructions called for PVC pipe. After making one or two PVC clarinets, I decided to adapt the instructions to making a similar instrument from bamboo.

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In this episode, I introduce the podcast: Jonathan's Musical Instruments from Found Objects. In addition, I introduce a simple horn I made by taping together three cardboard tubes from paper towel rolls, as well as a paper cup. Note: musical instruments may be classified in a variety of ways. A common way is by family: Brass, winds, percussion and strings. I do not have any brass instruments in my collection. The brass family includes a variety of horns. Obviously, the horn I made cannot be included in this group.

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