That there in that picture is Len Solomon and his bellowphone. Len came to the school on Friday to perform at an assembly.

It's rare that I'll include a school event as a New Thing, but I'll admit it - we're in a bit of a New Thing dry spell.

And this was a pretty good performance.

So good that it only just occurred to me that this is also the rare post about music that doesn't take place on a Monday.

I guess we're just breaking all the rules today.

Earlier in the week I told the students we were having this assembly, and I knew there was a bellowphone in the title. I assumed it was kind of like a one-mand-band, and in my mind I assumed a bellowphone was some kind of instrument that accommodated a one-man band.

When I asked if anyone knew what a bellowphone was I got a few responses about the kind of instrument it was - they all sounded like they could be pretty accurate.

Turns out...it's something this guy created.

It's made up of tubes - like pipes and vacuum hoses - and pieces of metal and horns, and to watch Len Solomon play all of the different instruments he made from items like coat hangers and straws (he's more than just a bellowphone player) was something else.

I like music, and I wish I had a better ear for music. I can play a little piano, but I have no ability to do music by ear. This guy turns anything that makes a noise into a specific note - that is unfathomable to me. I don't even know if I can learn to develop that kind of a skill.

He mixed in some humor too - he killed with the 8-and-under set.

Here's the link to his site - if you're looking for some school-age entertainment, I'd recommend him.