BULLROARER

You may be hearing a sound at this page. It is the sound of a bullroarer.

A bullroarer is an instrument commonly found in many cultures around the world. It is usually a small, flat, shaped piece of wood that is attached to a string and spun around to make a low, whirring, roaring sound. The sound reminds some of a hummingbird or the spinning propeller of an old plane.

Bullroarers, also known as the "Aboriginal telephone," are used by Australian aborigines to warn women and children to keep away from a sacred site or ceremony they are forbidden to see.

You can make one of your own. You might want to help the adults with this...so they don't get confused.

MAKE A BULLROARER

You will need:

Wooden paint stirrer from the hardware store
Hammer
Large nail
Long piece of string (or fishing line and swivel)

With the hammer and nail, punch a hole in the handle of the paint stirrer. Thread the string through this hole and tie it securely.

An alternative to this -- we encourage you to experiment -- is to use a short piece of fishing line strung through the handle hole and tied, then tie a swivel onto the other end of this short piece of fishing line. At the other end of the swivel, tie a long piece of fishing line.

Now, use the hammer and nail again to make holes in the "stirring" end of the paint stirrer. Put the holes in a row or in your own pattern. Make as many as you like.

To make the sound, go outside or to a large open building where you can swing your bullroarer around without hitting anything or anyone. Hold tightly to the end of the string and whirl your bullroarer around in front of you or above your head.

Be careful that you don't get to swinging so much that you wind up with string or fishing line wrapped all around your head, please.