Making Gourd Musical Instruments by Ginger Summit & Jim Widess. Take a gourd, cut it open, and clean it out, and you've already got a frame for a drum, the body of a banjo or zither, or a tube for a flute without any complicated techniques or tools. Pluck them, bang them, shake them, and blow into them! These instruments from wood temple gongs to water drums and stamping tubes produce every type of joyful noise. Make a fun gourd orchestra of rattles, like a Mesoamerican Indian rain stick and African shekere; a Caribbean guiro; a gorgeous mbira or thumb piano; and friction drums that wail or roar. There are instruments from near and far, from the unusual to the familiar banjo and guitar. Tips on choosing, cleaning, and sealing a gourd, and decorating and playing the finished instrument, help to create beautiful music. Color illustrations throughout. 144 pages, 8.5 x 10 paperback. To order by phone call Toll Free: 866-596-9982