Standard Maple
(center of picture)
CLACKAMORE
ALL SOLD OUT!
NO LONGER BEING MADE |
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The pocket-sized CLACKAMORE is both a
percussive and melody instrument.
It is easy to play - simply hold it to your lips and tap with your fingers.
This is all you need to do to play along and provide a percussive beat.
Anyone can join in jam sessions! |
All musicians will enjoy the challenge of
learning to play melodies with the CLACKAMORE. By forming the mouth into shapes akin to
saying "E" and "O", and by opening and closing the throat, melodies
from nursery rhymes to blue grass rifts can be played. The CLACKAMORE has been described
as a "percussive jew's harp" and "a tool for listening to the shape of your
mouth". |
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| "A TOOL FOR LISTENING TO THE SHAPE OF YOUR MOUTH",
that's how Wayland Harman describes his Clackamore. This percussive musical instrument is
capable of playing melodies by utilizing the player's mouth cavity. |
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| Most people can be playing a Clackamore in 5 or 10 minutes
compared to the many hours required to achieve beginner levels with most traditional
instruments. "In spite of its simplicity, folks tell me a year later about the new
sounds and rhythms they are finding. It's very exciting to get that kind of feedback,
especially from kids", said Wayland. |
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| Children are one focus of the Clackamore. Wayland hopes the
instrument will serve as an introduction to music to generations of American youth.
"The instruments to which our children are first exposed can be very rigid musically,
which is fine when learning sight reading and preparing for classical instruments. The
Clackamore, however, encourages music to be spontaneous. It brings out the hidden
musician, instead of remolding the musician to fit current musical trends", explained
Wayland. |
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| Music is a universally accepted form of communication.
"Cultural differences and enormous variations of style give us a lot to argue about,
however, we all agree music is pretty good stuff", mused Wayland. "The
Clackamore allows non-musicians to become participants where before they were only
listeners", he continued. |
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| Wayland quips, "Warning: Use of the Clackamore may lead to
harder instruments!" |
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PLAYING YOUR CLACKAMORE |
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Hold the Clackamore as shown, resting your thumb and forefinger
against your cheek while grasping opposing sides of the instrument neck. With the
instrument lightly touching your lips, tap the reed with the extended fingers of your free
hand. To play different notes, change the size and shape of your mouth cavity by silently
mouthing the letter "A" and "E". With a little practice, these pitch
variations can be controlled to permit the playing of melodies. Experimentation will
reveal the many different sounds and rhythms you can play with your Clackamore. |
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| Your Clackamore has been lightly coated with mineral oil.
Additional application will keep it looking new. Should any rough spots develop, sand with
fine grit paper (180 or finer) and reapply oil. |
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| The hammer should occasionally be adjusted so that its contact
point on the spoon is moved slightly. This will prevent a deep dent from developing on the
spoon's back ridge. Do this by sliding the reed at the coupling block. |
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| The action is the distance between the back of the spoon and
the point of the hammer. This distance may require adjustment to accommodate your
individual style of play. To make the instrument play with a lighter touch, wrap a rubber
band around the narrows. To make the instrument play with a heavier touch, trim or sand
the 2 faces of the hammer that form the point. The hammer and reed should be removed from
the coupling block to perform this adjustment. Test your progress often to avoid removing
too much material. |
Prices and availability are subject to change without notice
Shipping and handling:
Domestic US$ 4.00 first item and US$ 2.00 each
additional
International US$ 6.00 first item and US$ 2.00 each
additional
(Idaho residents add 5% sales tax)
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