Carrot clarinet | Linsey Pollak | TEDxSydney

Linsey Pollak turns a carrot into a clarinet using an electic drill a carrot and a saxophone mouthpiece, and plays it all in a matter of 5 minutes.
Linsey Pollak is an Australian musician, instrument maker, composer, musical director and community music facilitator. He has recorded 31 albums, toured his solo shows extensively in Europe, Nth America and Asia as well as performing at most major festivals around Australia.
Linsey has devised many large Festival pieces such as "BimBamBoo" and "Sound Forest", as well as collaborating on many music and theatre projects around Australia. He established The Multicultural Arts Centre of WA, and has co-ordinated five Cross-cultural Music Ensembles in three different States. Linsey has also worked as a musical instrument maker for 40 years and has designed a number of new wind instruments as well as specialising in woodwind instruments from Eastern Europe.
TEDxSydney is an independently organised event licensed from TED by longtime TEDster, Remo Giuffré (REMO General Store) and organised by his General Thinking network of fellow thinkers and other long time collaborators.
TEDxSydney has become the leading platform and pipeline for the propagation of Australian ideas, creativity, innovation and culture to the rest of the world.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@hoouos2]

gives a whole new meaning to playing with your food

[@LucyKing411]

+ShadowSage6 Ba dum tss

[@kathering65]

+ShadowSage6 lol true dat

[@zachbarton5670]

ShadowSage6 when you think about it, all those people went there to watch a guy play music out of a frickin carrot.

[@peachnotperf]

Lol true dat

[@frogg002]

lol

[@Muscleduck]

That sounded a million times better than I ever imagined.

[@gregortheteror8764]

uhh it did all the way ...

[@abigayleamazingYT]

Ikr

[@dingdongyourmomswrong6603]

I was surprised by how low the pitch was for such a short instrument, so I had to do the math for myself. He cuts the carrot to 178mm length. That's from his (now defunct) website, but fits the size of his hand in the video. He's using a saxophone mouthpiece, which has a bore diameter about three times the bore diameter that he drilled in the carrot; the larger diameter of the mouthpiece coupled to the smaller bore increases the effective acoustic length of the mouthpiece to about 150mm. The fundamental frequency for a clarinet (all holes covered) would be f = S/4L, where the speed of sound (S) is 345 m/s and the total acoustic length (L) is 0.328 m, works out to 263Hz which is fairly close to middle C, which is what he played. If he had used a clarinet mouthpiece, he would have needed a bigger carrot to get the same pitch.

[@calliarcale]

I really appreciate the time you took to comment. I know the calculations for focal length of a telescope, but I don't know the calculations for fundamental frequency -- and that's despite playing woodwinds most of my life (primarily bassoon). I know very little of the acoustic science behind them. So thank you! And thank you for explaining why the saxophone mouthpiece was the right choice for this carrot clarinet. I have learned something today, and that means it was a good day. Thank you very much. ;-)

[@thepinnacleofretardation3345]

its sodium chloride

[@ajfiaewoipaweipefawejpfwoe1049]

@@thepinnacleofretardation3345 no dude, it's salt

[@lucyfoster4082]

dingdong yourmomswrong Has the timbre of a saxophone, IMO-are characteristics of the sound more from the mouthpiece?

[@ThisCanBePronounced]

@@lucyfoster4082 likely. You can make a clarinet sound like one if you use a soft reed and / or play with lips loose. I do it pretty often - since I'm still learning clarinet and can't always keep up the pressure, lol.

[@Matt-ow2xs]

The last 50 seconds when he's playing the final product is sublime. It's a short but amazing composition. I pull up this red talk every so often just to listen to the last 50 seconds numerous times in a row.

[@danielvandommele1204]

yup, same here. I love it :D

[@mythicalmop2354]

4:16

[@spdcrzy]

Carrinet?

[@comedyclub333]

You deserve more upvotes LOOOOL

[@goldenvibes952]

upvotes? you mean likes?

[@spdcrzy]

Reddit is leaking again XD

[@comedyclub333]

Yeah, that's what I meant xD

[@barretthoven]

Sai Namuduri 200th like

[@ndexohill]

I want to see him make and play a pickle-o

[@EMBK29]

hahahaha

[@raymondpotier5283]

Mother of God sur

[@gorgestboi1028]

@Nat King Cobra get out

[@stephenphillip5656]

Or a tuber...

[@taffel223]

A pickle is to wed to play

[@BrentJohn]

I think the only thing more impressive than being able to make a clarinet out of a carrot is that a TEDx presentation was useful for once!

[@rayscr]

LOL

[@BrentJohn]

***** Congratulations! You're the second horrible human being I've dealt with in a row that calls a person stupid for having a different opinion.

[@tis8411]

TEDx presentations are frequently useful/informative.

[@BrentJohn]

t is You sure you're not talking about TED and not TEDx?

[@fornictist_thou7287]

BrentJohn although most people are gonna give you shit, you are indeed correct because most tedx talks are just smart people showing off what they can do and talking about how they did it. This is one of the only ones where you get taught to do something. So fuck the ignorant people, and good on ya

[@mackindle12345]

The amount of soul in that first phrase @ 4:17 is just amazing - what a brilliant sound!

[@agiar2000]

Strange; It does not sound like a carrot.

[@frh6668]

i wonder what a carrot sounds like

[@agiar2000]

Fred RobidouxH Crunchy

[@frh6668]

agiar2000 you are quite right, my dear

[@hirof4357]

@@agiar2000 hahahha I died. Good one!

[@agiar2000]

@@hirof4357 Thank you very much!

[@kesharisuthar3268]

Pollock's transformation of a carrot into a clarinet, is absolutely amazing. He is a genius musical instrument maker / musician. 👌👌👍👍❤❤

[@jerrykellerman9725]

My aunt sent this video trying to find something I’ll appreciate. I told her I was yawning until he played the dang thing. I sat up respectfully, kudos.

[@shelbelster42]

This man has fantastic creativity!!! I can't even imagine who or why someone would give this video a thumbs down...seriously what planet are you from to NOT enjoy this?!? Either way, I could watch this man all day & still want more!! Love watching people with creative minds at work!!

[@beartz1415]

Obviously a very talented man who enjoys his work and his life.

[@rumeunner3245]

I've met him and his sense of humour is wicked.

[@voyfan99]

I freaked out when he started playing! It sounds like a high quality clarinet!

[@jeremyshaferorigami]

This inspires me to try to make the a carrot kena that would be 100% carrot. It would take some fine carving but it must be able to be done.

[@avimango46]

In ‘Marathi language’of Maharashtra in India there is proverb “ try to make a musical instrument 🎷 using a carrot and Incase you fail then just eat it” ! This proverb has come true with this beautiful attempt as seen in video 😀. Thanks dear 🙏 from India!

[@usa1327]

i could prbly listen to this guy play a carrot all day long!

[@sierrahultgren945]

THIS man is brilliant!

[@briannamagobet6204]

how did you even find this??? lol

[@sierrahultgren945]

my brother showed it to me. he saw it on facebook and i thought it was awesome, so i shared it.

[@willdaniels5260]

amazing timbre for something so easily made! I've seen a few people make instruments from fruit/veg and this is by far the best sounding!

[@frickle-frackwithahackiesa5444]

This is my dogs favorite song 🎵 he sings along every time and only to this song for over 5 years. Here’s to you carrot clarinet🥂🥕 may you never stop playing

[@TheJoppen]

The clarrot

[@Treyvlog]

Korvmeknacke carronet

[@aud_pegooey]

Carronet

[@newjeans1287]

awwwww keep him protected at all costs

[@raysnoderlyjr2950]

That carrot sounds better than most clarinets.

[@stephenrobinson52]

I want to see someone put together an entire reed section in an orchestra playing these things. CAN WE PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPEN?!?!

[@patriciaperry5684]

Such creativity! Imagination beyond anything I've seen/or known! Now, I know what a carrot sounds like! Ty.

[@rev.deborahcaryer5159]

I like the creative idea and being funny, and musical talent in one.

[@wtopp345985]

In elementary school I played (attempted to learn how to play) the cornet...This guy make it look easy.

[@freakman707]

That's gotta be the 2nd best carrot performance I've ever witnessed.

[@kevinhamilton303]

Very good. I appreciate this man's creativity. What type of person would dislike this video? 411 people disliked it. That's amazing to me.

[@amyrosenold-music-healing-yoga]

How cool and fun is that! Obviously he's an accomplished horn reed player, which helps alot with his demo :)

[@wfgjoan]

Genius....carrot clarinet can make beautiful music...

[@djtriode]

I was always told not to play with my food as a kid. Who said you cant play with your food...love it .Thank you for uploading

[@juliosalgado318]

This guy is Amazing. Hi Quality, Creativity and Performance.

[@a1l2i3r4i5o]

La capacidad creativa de los seres humanos no tiene límites! Y con el transcurso del tiempo, ésta será aún mayor cada vez!

[@walterjakoboski8628]

I use tall dandelion stems for a simple 3 holed one. As a child I used a pumpkin vine. These come naturally pre-holed. Dandelions you squeeze the narrower end to make the reeds. But the carrot in this video sounds much better.

[@greensasque]

That was amazing, the piece at the end just blew me away.

[@rav-ft2wh]

Her: "Do you play an instrument?" Me: "Yeah, a carrot"

[@5688gamble]

Pickleo, carrotnet, potarina, any kind of fluit really, love my foodwind instruments!

[@drmichaelshea]

When I was a young clarinetist and saxophonist, I also played a double-reed slide music stand. It's range was limited (a minor third), and it would have been easier to play for someone used to playing oboe or English horn, but it was a good ax and I wish I still had it.

[@projectmarketingaustralia2460]

Perfect example of thinking outside the box. Great stuff!

[@MrJonesymatt]

and the bliss starts at 4:20 how convenient ().o

[@MakasUniverse]

SMOKE WEED EVERYDAY

[@zach3141]

+Matt Jones haha this video definitely reminded me of stoner engineering, too. Apple -> bong, carrot -> clarinet

[@welderwomanNM]

This is so cool. I have to share this with my little brother that is a bass music man. I never would of thought about being able to make things with vegetables! Sweet.

[@detinator5]

Instructions aren't clear, I drilled through the carrot and my hand into the table. Help

[@yuya6530]

I know it's kind of late but eat the carrot and your hand. It's the only way

[@MightyCosmicNights]

_Yuya Fujisawa_ yeap yur right XD

[@bradleyplatt6706]

Put the mouthpiece into your hand and play your hand....who needs a carrot!!!

[@ghostofsparta6579]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@James-wd9ib]

greatest sound to ever come out of a vegetable

[@snowyalice]

I swear when I was a kid he appeared on children's tv or something. I have memories of watching someone make carrot clarinets.

[@EricLGarner1]

This is really cool, and so good for folks who want to get into music on a low budget - for just the price of a carrot, a mouthpiece and a small kitchen funnel. Oh, and a drill that could be borrowed Brilliant.

[@michellporras9322]

i play the clarinet and i never thought a carrot would be a clarinet , i love this video

[@chillquee5481]

Smooth jazz for your soul

[@DanielIKrichman]

Brillante! La creatividad permite hacer algo con cosas que (culturalmente) no están relacionadas. Por ejemplo hacer un clarinete con una zanahoria...

[@catherinejorgenson7519]

This is amazing and unbelievable! I'm so glad my friend Jared Mohler pointed me to this video.

[@MsRightseeksMrRight]

how awesome and clever is that??? wow!!! TEDx fantastic!!

[@TheGuzmi]

Brilliant. Literally, a musical vegetable.

[@AquanerdApril]

One of my musical heroes. Break the stereotypes, blow the world's collective minds!

[@meissel16]

que artista tan extraordinario ,muchas bendiciones ,

[@antoniopereira6147]

Fantástico! É preciso muita imaginação. Gostei de ver! Não sei se não vou experimentar! Duarte Pereira

[@w.s.harvey9274]

The only Ted Talk I've ever seen and love.

[@bendati1]

Incredible creativity!

[@edgywedgie9307]

A E S T H E T I C

[@JohnnyReedShow]

Hey this was Fun and inspiring... Music creation from the basics ....make it your own Carrot Clarinet! Thank you Linsey!

[@kishorbarua3604]

Never seen like this.Perfect.

[@Danny2ndgrade]

That was amazing. Glad I stayed till the end

[@TheHemantShah]

Use of fruit/veg. has been done in India for centuries. Pungii is one such instrument, Pungii consists of a gauged out gourd, a pair of reeds on one end and two flute like bamboo sticks one for drone and one for melody with six holes, on the other end. Even today this can be found in towns and villages with snake charmers. An instrument comparable to the clarinet is Shehnai. It uses reeds made from special kind of weeds grown in lakes and uses a wood flute like structure with an end piece of metal horn like shape. This instrument is used commonly at weddings and in religious ceremonies. ...hemant shah

[@ceeveem]

Just watched you on ABC's Big Ideas Art - blown away! LOVE this! All the best to you :)

[@martaason3683]

There is always sth. nice to see every new day..Great!

[@VIRGONOMICS]

Delicious tone

[@monbond1]

He's incredible...wow. very creative.

[@cumberlandite56]

Pretty darn cool!

[@Jorymatthews]

Just well and truly AMAZING!

[@dorenemellene2201]

What do you call an instrument made out of a carrot with a saxophone mouth piece? Answer: A Carrotnetophone...............That guy is awesome. He's so creative, and really good at playing music.

[@MariaBliznuk]

He is awesome!!!

[@USINGISMILE]

I love to be surprised, that was amazing!!

[@dennisw594]

I'll have to give it a try... pretty cool.

[@yomidavid3888]

wonderful invention

[@Texan1939]

Sooooooooo.. that's a "carroinet". . . . . very cool!

[@steelwoolsheep7960]

When his carrot clarinet sounds better than your actual clarinet..

[@oaktarot]

Thank you for coming to my ted talk

[@selenatasli7273]

Thanks for this Alyx

[@legendarium1127]

Mom: We can't afford a clarinet for you Me:

[@ItsMeHammie]

You know it's late and you should probably be sleeping when you watch a video of someone making a clarinet out of a carrot.

[@yvngmicro5741]

I'm going to make sure that I make this. That's awesome.

[@bamboosaxeswebshop]

Now, this is creativity. :) I also make mini saxes but only from bamboo. Beautiful presentation and playing, congratulations!

[@eplantsnoosa1]

Bravo - loved it Linsey

[@baywriter1]

You gotta see this. Especially if you used to play clarinet in the school band, I may have to make this. What did I do with my old mouth piece? Thanks Rose Marie Cole for sending this to me.

[@harikuttan43]

It is one of the great piece of imagination and art,

[@manoharraomamidipell]

clarinet from carrot,like this.

[@MaddyAtkinson]

My German Shepherd will sit all day and howl to this.

[@swishvibes8482]

Parents: Dont play with your food Nobody Linsey Pollak: Hold my carronet

[@suzannedemoranville7120]

CARRONET That is it's name. A new woodwind. I shall propose this concept to my wind ensemble, creating a new addition to the clarinet section.

[@MTLGas2]

Amazing!

[@leob4403]

The Royal Symphonic Orchestra should definitely replace their clarinets with carrot clarinets, all in the name of sustainability

[@luckymanol2693]

this guy is soo creative

[@rbagel55]

A clarinet with a full day's supply of Vitamin A

[@koreboredom4302]

Creative, and delicious!

[@ninogugic2392]

This man trumpet is awsome ! :D

[@Hara7143]

Awesome!

[@cindylw5]

What fun!

[@NosamIAm]

I am going to try this. Good thing I have a saxophone for this.

[@jelmarvandermeer3220]

Ive seen a number of things on KZbin that astound me, I used to think so much of other videos, the absolute and pure awesomeness. Linsey, although he has a not so cool name, is a pretty fucking cool guy. Wish we had more like him on our planet, also, if anyone cared to tell me, I'd like to know what this song is called.

[@joeblob01]

great!! sounds smoooth....

[@sampistachio]

Once upon a time a clarinet was referred to as a licorice stick. Pollak's carrot is much cooler and, in its way, just as sweet.

[@catieallan158]

Amazing & so entertaining!

[@stephencurry5616]

Amazing.

[@KeithHuang]

clever man playing with food .. amazing