National Kazoo Day fell on Jan. 28, and the Blair School of Music celebrated with an event celebrating kazoos and their history of serving as not only an instrument but also as an object with numerous lesser-known purposes.
The event began with a presentation by Dr. Cynthia Cyrus, a professor of musicology at Blair, whose collection of kazoos was on display in the library. Her presentation went through American experiences connected to the kazoo and the history of the instrument.
“Celebrating National Kazoo Day is a joy because there’s so much energy around the kazoo,” Cyrus said. “It’s something anyone can do and everyone can relate to.”
According to Cyrus’ presentation, the kazoo was first invented in 1840 by Alabama Vest, a formerly enslaved person, and was presented a few years later at the Georgia State Fair in Macon, Ga. About 40 years after its invention, the first patent for a kazoo was created.
Kazoos would become increasingly popular throughout the remainder of the 19th century, as seen through the release of songs about kazoos, the creation of kazoo bands and kazoos even being performed at political rallies for former U.S. President Grover Cleveland.
Cyrus also discussed the multiple functions that kazoos served throughout the 20th century. Aside from being used as an instrument, kazoos also served as advertisements for other items. These advertisements would usually be written on the back side of the kazoo’s surface, usually on a written piece of paper attached to the kazoo.
Cyrus also discussed how kazoos stirred some legal controversy. After a lawsuit was filed in 1925 about whether kazoos were instruments or toys, the now-defunct Court of Customs and Patent Appeals ruled that kazoos were toys since that was how they were commonly used. However, a future ruling stated kazoos were actually “metal objects” after 43 court cases were filed in response.
Since then, kazoos have also served as protest instruments in response to former U.S. President Richard Nixon and have been used as evidence in an American court of law. It is clear that kazoos have had a significant impact on American society for almost 150 years.
Following Cyrus’s presentation about the history of kazoos in the United States, a number of student violinists in the Suzuki Program performed a selection of songs for attendees, including “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and a number of classical compositions like J. S. Bach’s “Minuet No. 2” and Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Minuet in G.”
After their performance at the National Kazoo Day celebration, students in the Suzuki Program were tasked with creating their own original rendition of “Happy Birthday To You” in honor of the Blair Academy’s 60th anniversary on Feb. 9, which was directly inspired by the event.
Throughout the event, attendees were provided with various activities related to National Kazoo Day. At a table near the presentation space, attendees were given free kazoos to take home, received supplies to make their own kazoos and had an opportunity to take a quiz about the instrument’s history.
Junior Ivana Yactayo attended the National Kazoo Day celebration, and shared her newfound interest for the kazoo following the event.
“The kazoo celebration was an illustrious event that allowed me to develop an appreciation for this very misunderstood instrument,” Yactayo said.
Behind the presentation space, a number of desks were set up to showcase an exhibition of kazoos, all owned by Cyrus. The exhibition, which consisted of objects from one of the largest kazoo collections, highlighted the origins of kazoos, the kazoo’s role as an advertiser and how the kazoo’s design changed over time.
First-year Annette Ma also attended the celebration, and shared her excitement for the event’s positive energy, as well as her appreciation for the Blair Academy and undergraduate students celebrating together.
“The National Kazoo Day events were filled with so much positivity and energy. It was really exciting to see the Blair Academy and undergraduate populations come together, make music together, and have fun,” Ma said. “I loved the hands-on nature of the event, from the opportunity to play and take home a kazoo or even make one of our own.”
Throughout the rest of the year, the Wilson Music Library will be hosting more events to commemorate a few holidays. Aside from celebrating National Kazoo Day annually, the library will have a celebration for April Fools’ Day on April 1. Later this year, the library will also have a Halloween celebration for Blair Academy students and their families.
Celebrating National Kazoo Day was a captivating experience, which showcased the important presence that kazoos have had in American society for so long. While many may not consider kazoos to be such an interesting thing to celebrate, it is clear that they have served a number of purposes throughout history and deserve attention.
