Some less common instruments

I spend my life at school wishing that children could distinguish between the sound of instruments more and wishing the answer "Piano" didn't seem to come up any time we listen to and try to identify an instrument! As part of this eternal quest, I frequently play videos as the children come into Singing Assembly so they can hear and see the instruments simultaneously and try to cement the link between the visual and aural as much as possible.

Sometimes, as well as covering the common instruments and world instruments, it's fun though, to know about and explore more diverse instruments

I thought I've have a look and see if I could share some instrument, crazy or extreme instruments with you here so below, I've linked to some articles showing some weird and wacky instruments as well as the video I've embedded!

Have a look at the links below.  Particularly interesting is the link to crystal and glass instruments.  

As a teenager, I had performed at the Barbican in a concert with percussionist, Alastair Molloy, who performed on the glass harmonica (a set of tuned wine glasses which you rub the tops of to produce an eerie sound).  The next day, after the concert, my Mum came down to find her entire glass collection out and tuned as I made my own one!  One time, for 'Blog every day in November' I actually filmed myself playing the wine glasses as part of the brief, 'Unusual talents' but I never did share it.  Wish I had done now!

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/latest/weirdest-musical-instruments/  

https://www.roh.org.uk/news/the-glass-harmonica-the-worlds-most-dangerous-instrument

http://mentalfloss.com/article/25363/8-weird-and-wonderful-musical-instruments

http://rareandstrangeinstruments.com/crystal-sounds-and-glass-instruments

What's the weirdest instrument you have heard of?

xx