Litha
June 24th, 2001, 09:40 PM
Children love music as much as they enjoy making things.
Why not join these two creative forces and make one or all
of these fun and easy musical instruments to encourage play
and creativity.
DECORATIVE ITEMS
For any of these activities, you can leave the items plain or
decorate them. If you need ideas for decorating these projects,
try any of the following items. We are sure this list will help you
think of even more items you can use. Combine different things
such as buttons and glitter or sequins and yarn. Let the children's
creativity surprise you!
Keeping items such as these in a large plastic storage container
makes for easy access and quick clean up.
sequins
buttons
yarn
ribbon
masking tape
beads
glitter
sand
cellophane
construction paper
magazines
photos
crayons
markers
colored pencils
paint
nail polish
When you are finished constructing your instruments, have
a camera ready to take a picture of the band. Record this
activity in your child's scrapbook so you can look back in
years to come.
TAMBOURINE
2 paper plates
stapler or glue
hole punch
string
jingle bells
crayons
Staple or glue two paper plates together, facing each other.
Using a hole punch, make holes around the plates and tie
jingle bells to the holes with string. Decorate the tambourine
with crayons.
Shake to play.
Note: Heavy duty paper plates may be more durable for this craft.
Safety note: If using a stapler, an adult should do this. When
finished be sure to cover the staples with scotch tape.
DRUM
empty oatmeal box with cover
yarn
pen
2 pencils
2 spools
construction paper
crayons
Before beginning, you can decorate the oatmeal box with
construction paper and/or crayons for a colorful effect.
Place the cover on the box. Use a pen to make a hole in
the center of the cover and in the center of the bottom of
the box. Through these holes, pull a piece of yarn long
enough to hang around child's neck and down to their waist.
For the drumsticks, place the spools at the ends of the
pencils, secure with glue if necessary.
Beat to play.
CHIMES
ruler or stick
washers
nail polish
string
mixing spoon
Hang the washers from the ruler or stick with pieces of string
by wrapping the string around the ruler or stick and securing.
Strike the washers with the mixing spoon to play.
Note: You can make this craft colorful by painting the washers
first with different color nail polishes, such as red, glittery, etc.
Parents should supervise this part of the activity closely.
HORN
paper towel roll
waxed paper
rubber band
pen
Cover one end of the paper towel roll with waxed paper, secure
it with a rubber band. Punch a row of holes along one side of the
roll with the tip of a pen.
To play, sing a tune into the open end of the horn.
CYMBALS
two matching pot covers
yarn or ribbon
Tie the ribbon or yarn around the handles of the pot covers.
To play, strike together.
XYLOPHONE
tall glasses or jars
water
mixing spoon
Fill the glasses or jars with different amounts of water. The
more water in the glass, the lower the pitch will be. Having
less water in the glass or jar will raise the pitch.
To play, gently strike the glasses with a mixing spoon.
Note: This instrument should probably be played by older
children in "the band" because of the use of glass.
COMB BUZZER
pocket comb
tissue paper
Fold a piece of tissue paper over the tooth edge of a comb.
To play, hum through the tissue paper.
GUITAR
empty shoe box
rubber bands
ruler or stick
Remove the cover from the box. Stretch the rubber bands
around the box. Attach the ruler or stick to the back of the
box on one end to act as the arm of the guitar.
To play, strum or pluck the rubber bands.
HAND BELLS
2 paper towel rolls
hole punch
4 jingle bells
string or yarn
Punch a hole in each end of the paper towel rolls. Tie two
jingle bells to each side of the paper towel rolls by running
string or yarn through the holes and carefully tying off.
Shake to play.
Have fun and let creativity and imagination run wild! Record
the band's first song and play back for some great giggle time.
Why not join these two creative forces and make one or all
of these fun and easy musical instruments to encourage play
and creativity.
DECORATIVE ITEMS
For any of these activities, you can leave the items plain or
decorate them. If you need ideas for decorating these projects,
try any of the following items. We are sure this list will help you
think of even more items you can use. Combine different things
such as buttons and glitter or sequins and yarn. Let the children's
creativity surprise you!
Keeping items such as these in a large plastic storage container
makes for easy access and quick clean up.
sequins
buttons
yarn
ribbon
masking tape
beads
glitter
sand
cellophane
construction paper
magazines
photos
crayons
markers
colored pencils
paint
nail polish
When you are finished constructing your instruments, have
a camera ready to take a picture of the band. Record this
activity in your child's scrapbook so you can look back in
years to come.
TAMBOURINE
2 paper plates
stapler or glue
hole punch
string
jingle bells
crayons
Staple or glue two paper plates together, facing each other.
Using a hole punch, make holes around the plates and tie
jingle bells to the holes with string. Decorate the tambourine
with crayons.
Shake to play.
Note: Heavy duty paper plates may be more durable for this craft.
Safety note: If using a stapler, an adult should do this. When
finished be sure to cover the staples with scotch tape.
DRUM
empty oatmeal box with cover
yarn
pen
2 pencils
2 spools
construction paper
crayons
Before beginning, you can decorate the oatmeal box with
construction paper and/or crayons for a colorful effect.
Place the cover on the box. Use a pen to make a hole in
the center of the cover and in the center of the bottom of
the box. Through these holes, pull a piece of yarn long
enough to hang around child's neck and down to their waist.
For the drumsticks, place the spools at the ends of the
pencils, secure with glue if necessary.
Beat to play.
CHIMES
ruler or stick
washers
nail polish
string
mixing spoon
Hang the washers from the ruler or stick with pieces of string
by wrapping the string around the ruler or stick and securing.
Strike the washers with the mixing spoon to play.
Note: You can make this craft colorful by painting the washers
first with different color nail polishes, such as red, glittery, etc.
Parents should supervise this part of the activity closely.
HORN
paper towel roll
waxed paper
rubber band
pen
Cover one end of the paper towel roll with waxed paper, secure
it with a rubber band. Punch a row of holes along one side of the
roll with the tip of a pen.
To play, sing a tune into the open end of the horn.
CYMBALS
two matching pot covers
yarn or ribbon
Tie the ribbon or yarn around the handles of the pot covers.
To play, strike together.
XYLOPHONE
tall glasses or jars
water
mixing spoon
Fill the glasses or jars with different amounts of water. The
more water in the glass, the lower the pitch will be. Having
less water in the glass or jar will raise the pitch.
To play, gently strike the glasses with a mixing spoon.
Note: This instrument should probably be played by older
children in "the band" because of the use of glass.
COMB BUZZER
pocket comb
tissue paper
Fold a piece of tissue paper over the tooth edge of a comb.
To play, hum through the tissue paper.
GUITAR
empty shoe box
rubber bands
ruler or stick
Remove the cover from the box. Stretch the rubber bands
around the box. Attach the ruler or stick to the back of the
box on one end to act as the arm of the guitar.
To play, strum or pluck the rubber bands.
HAND BELLS
2 paper towel rolls
hole punch
4 jingle bells
string or yarn
Punch a hole in each end of the paper towel rolls. Tie two
jingle bells to each side of the paper towel rolls by running
string or yarn through the holes and carefully tying off.
Shake to play.
Have fun and let creativity and imagination run wild! Record
the band's first song and play back for some great giggle time.
