Homemade
instruments can create some great music
克難樂團
As they say, a good musician plays the music, not the instrument. Never was this truer than in the case of jug bands. Musicians in a jug band use ordinary, homemade instruments (along with some traditional instruments) to make beautiful music. An old-fashioned washboard becomes a rhythm instrument. A pair of ordinary kitchen spoons helps to keep the beat. A washtub with a broomstick handle and a piece of cord becomes a string bass. Of course, a jug band always has an empty jug used as a wind instrument.
Jug bands have long been a part of the world of jazz and blues music. African-American musicians created this style of music around the beginning of the 20th century in Louisville, Kentucky. Later, jug bands became popular in other river towns like Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Traditional instruments like the guitar and the violin, or "fiddle." were already popular in southern music. When musicians discovered they could play musical notes with whiskey jugs, the jug band was born.
So how do you play a jug, anyway? You just hold the jug close to your mouth and blow air through your lips to make them vibrate. The jug helps to make the sound louder. What about the other homemade instruments? Scrape the washboard with a hard object. Hit the spoons together against you leg or against a cooking pan. Hum into a kazoo made from a comb and wax paper.
Early jug band musicians used whatever they had available to make musical instruments. Some of them even made guitars out of cigar boxes. You really have to hear the sound of a jug band to appreciate this fascinating style of music. Find some video clips online, or if you like, attend a jug band festival. The National Jug Band Jubilee in Louisville, Kentucky, is just one of the festivals devoted to preserving "America's happiest music." Soon you'll be clapping along with all the other fans of this delightful music. Maybe you'll want to make your own instrument and join in the fun.
Grammar Tips:
Never was this truer than in the case of jug bands. (best sample of the case)
never was....than - strong fact. (use the reverse way to bring people more attention.)
There was never a story more depressing than John's story.
= Never was there a story more depressing than John's.
There was never a person in town more helpful than Owen.
= Never was there a person in town more helpful than Owen.
Vocabulary Tips:
rhythm -节奏，韵律。节拍。
*The rhythm of the moving train made me sleepy.
*The conductor tapped the rhythm of the song with his baton. 指挥棒
wind instrument -管乐器。
*Rose not only plays flute, she plays all kinds of wind instruments.
string instruments -絃乐器
percussion instruments -打击乐器。
fiddle -小提琴。
*A musician was playing a fiddle in the park.
fiddle (v)- 拉小提琴。
*He learned how to fiddle from his father.
fiddle (v)- 乱动，乱碰。
*Stop fiddling with my computer. 别乱动，乱碰我的电脑。
vibrate - move very quick, very small.
*The roof of the auditorium vibrated when the band started playing.
*The girl's lips began to vibrate as she started her speech.
vibration (n) -振动，颤抖，抖动。
*The vibration of the earthquake could be felt hundreds of miles away.
scrape - (s-krep) hard touch the surface. 刮，擦。
*The painters scraped the old paint off the wall before applying a new coat. 刮掉。。
*Nina scraped her knee when she fell. 跌倒擦伤。
preserve - to protect away from damage, break or ruin. 保护，保持，维持，保留。。
*The customs of the tribe were well-preserved. 部落的习俗。。。完好的保留着。
*It's everyone's obligation to preserve our natural resource. 人人有责。。天然资源。。
fascinating - amazing, incredible.
jubilee - a large kind of celebration.
Chat Room:
born -出生，产生。诞生了。
the jug band was born.
born - bear 的过去式
bear - 负担，生小孩。born-bear 的过去式，borne -bear 的过去分词
bore - 孔，试砖孔，无聊的人，海啸，高潮，口径，枪膛。bear 的过去式（常用被动式）
borne -有成见的，见解狭隘的，气量狭窄的，偏狭的。
born not use "by" . The two children were born. I don't say the two children were born by their mother.
She gave birth to two children or she had two children.
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join /join in:
join - become a part of the group. 及物v.与不及物v.。及物 参加成为组织的一员，或是和某人一起做某事。
He joined a health club. 加入了健身俱乐部。
We're going to a movie on Friday, Will you join us? 你要和我们去（加入）吗？
join in - to take a part and active. （不及物v.）参与某项活动（不及物v.后面要加介系词“ in ”）。
You should join in the discussion. 参与讨论。
Maybe you'll want to make your own instrument and join in the fun.
join in the fun -上场同乐。
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participate/attend :
participate - not just in the group also take the part in the class, involve activities.参与
attend - show up at the group. 出席，（静态的，被动的参与）
attend a class -上课。
participate in class - 参与（课堂里的活动）
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