National Kazoo Day

National Kazoo Day is observed annually on January 28. This day celebrates the distinctive, buzzing sound of the kazoo, one of the few musical instruments to originate in the United States. It encourages people of all ages to pick up the simple device and participate in the democratic joy of making music through humming.

History of National Kazoo Day

Chaplin Willard Rahn, a member of the Joyful Noise Kazoo Band, established National Kazoo Day in 1983. Founded at the Homewood Retirement Home in Williamsport, Maryland, the observance was intended to promote the happiness that playing the instrument brings to both performers and listeners. Rahn intentionally made the date flexible, suggesting it be celebrated on or around January 28, or even the fourth Thursday of the month, to accommodate the schedules of various kazoo ensembles.

The instrument itself was co-invented in the 1840s by an African American named Alabama Vest and a German-American clockmaker named Thaddeus von Clegg in Macon, Georgia. It was first introduced to a wider audience as the “Down-South Submarine” at the 1852 Georgia State Fair. Commercial production began in 1912 when Emil Sorg and Michael McIntyre opened a factory in Western New York. By 1916, they founded the Original American Kazoo Company in Eden, New York, which remains a historical landmark and museum dedicated to the metal kazoo.

Why is National Kazoo Day important?

The kazoo is often called the most democratic instrument in the world because it requires no formal training or expensive equipment. Unlike the piano or violin, which take years to master, the kazoo only requires the player to hum a tune into its mouthpiece. This accessibility makes it a vital tool for music education in schools and a source of immediate creative expression for individuals who might otherwise feel excluded from the world of music.

The day also highlights the unique physics of sound, as the kazoo is a membranophone that uses a thin vibrating membrane to amplify the human voice. Beyond its role as a toy, the kazoo has a legitimate history in professional music, appearing in early jazz recordings and even works by modern rock artists. Celebrating this instrument keeps a piece of American folk history alive and reminds the public that making music should be a fun and inclusive activity for everyone.

• It provides an accessible entry point for children to learn rhythm and melody.
• The day honors a unique invention born from American collaboration.
• It promotes the mental health benefits of singing and creative play.
• The observance helps preserve the history of early jazz and blues music.
• It encourages community bonding through group performances and parades.

How to Celebrate National Kazoo Day

The easiest way to participate is to purchase a kazoo from a local music shop or find one online. Once you have the instrument, you can play along to your favorite songs by humming the melody into the larger end. If you want a more hands-on experience, you can create a DIY version using a cardboard toilet paper tube, a square of wax paper, and a rubber band. Simply secure the wax paper over one end of the tube and hum through the open side to create the signature buzzing vibration.

Many enthusiasts use the day to organize small kazoo “jam sessions” with friends, family, or coworkers. These informal gatherings often involve kazoo karaoke or a “kazoo parade” through a local park or community center. For those interested in the technical side, a visit to a museum or factory that showcases the manufacturing process offers a look at how thin sheets of metal are transformed into musical tools. Sharing videos of your performance on social media helps connect you with a global community of fellow “kazooists.”

• Hum your favorite pop or classical tunes through a kazoo.
• Build a homemade kazoo using a cardboard tube and wax paper.
• Host a kazoo-themed talent show or karaoke night.
• Watch online videos to learn advanced humming techniques.
• Share a video of your kazoo playing with friends online.

National Kazoo Day Dates Table