Thanks for the suggestions, and thanks to Joe for starting this thread separate. I believe I'll do what Peter T. suggests and get guitars in their hands.

I'll just add my 2 cents - some of the things I've tried that have worked. 1 - I used a sea shanty called "Strike the Bell" to give a lesson on teamwork. I played a recording of it done by a talented local group for the lesson. The scouts showed so much interest I taught it to them and we sang it at a court of honor, and got started on the Music merit badge that way. Conclusion: Let them hear a rollicking good recording of it so they'll know it's not just something "dumb old Jon" made up, and they'll be more inclined to learn it.

2 - I got them to build flutes (recorders or whistles, really) out of plastic pipe (another Music MB requirement fulfilled). Side note: there is a good recipe for these in the book _Making Wood Folk Instruments_ by Dennis Waring.

Please keep the suggestions coming & thanks again.