Homemade Instruments!

Plastic Egg Shakers

Materials :

  • plastic Easter eggs
  • filling - rice and barley are recommended, but you can also fill different eggs with different things and have children compare sounds
  • hot glue gun, and hot glue

Instructions:
Put a couple of tablespoons (you can experiment with sound before sealing) of rice or other filling in bottom half of egg. Run a bead of hot glue along the inside edge of the TOP of the egg. Carefully place top on and check to be sure it’s on straight and tight.

Comments:The larger size egg is fun, but if you use eggs the size of real eggs, you can store them in egg cartons painted to match the egg colors, and children can sort them when putting them away.

Jingle Sticks

Materials :

  • six metal bottle caps for each stick
  • six inch dowels or sticks
  • common nails, approx. 1 3/4" long
  • one nail larger in diameter, to use to punch holes in bottle caps
  • Polyurethane or other clear finish
  • optional: different colored electrical tape, and permanent black marker

Instructions :
Coat dowels with 2 coats of polyurethane, and allow to dry.Using larger nail, hammer holes in the centers of the bottle caps.Using common nails, hammer 3 sets of 2 bottle caps each along one side of the dowel, leaving enough dowel for handle.If desired, decorate handle end of dowel with bands of electrical tape, and draw design on tape with maker

African Tambourine

Materials :

  • jar to set balloon in while forming paper mache
  • 12" balloon
  • masking or other tape
  • awl or ice pick for punching holes
  • hot glue and glue gun
  • newspaper torn into 1" strips
  • white glue and water mixture (1 part glue to 3 parts water)
  • acrylic paint
  • 1 3/4" wide cloth or duct tape (vinyl or electrical tape won’t stick well)
  • yarn or string
  • cowry shells, buttons, or beads ( shell necklace is less expensive than individual shells)

Instructions :
Blow up balloon to about 2/3 full size (this is arbitrary). Set the balloon in jar, and lightly tape it to keep it from rolling around. Dip strips of newspaper in glue and water mixture, and pull off excess by running paper through fingers. Cover top half of balloon with several layers of newspaper, and allow to dry for 2 days. When paper mache is dry, remove balloon from jar, and pop it.Using scissors, cut an even edge around the bottom so you have a bowl shape. Fold cloth or duct tape over the cut edge of the bowl.
Using an awl or an ice pick, punch holes all around the bowl, just below the cloth tape, and a couple of inches apart.Thread yarn or string through the holes, and attach shells or buttons on the outside of the bowl, allowing them to hang loosely making a sound when the tambourine is moved back and forth.

Comments: to play the tambourine, hold it in both hands, with fingers up, and twist wrists back and forth. Once you have mastered this, you can gently toss it while twisting your wrists.

Sand Blocks

Materials:

  • pieces of wood (1X4 cut into 4" lengths)
  • felt rectangles cut to fit blocks of wood
  • medium grit sandpaper cut same size as felt pieces
  • white or other glue
  • Polyurethane and brush to seal wood

* optional- stickers to decorate wood blocks

Instructions:
Lightly sand wood blocks, and check to be sure there are no rough edges or splinters. I you are decorating the blocks with stickers, place them now. Then coat bottoms and sides of all blocks with 2 coats of Polyurethane. Let dry. Glue one or two pieces of felt, and then a piece of sandpaper onto the blocks, and place weight on them while they dry.

Juice Can Shakers

These are fun ethnic-looking shakers– very easy to make!
Materials:
Juice cans with paper labels (Dole Pineapple is the only one I have found, but you may find others).
Duct tape
Waxed paper
Rice or other similar filling
Hot glue
Electrical tape in different colors (available from hardware stores for under $2 )
Instructions:
Drink the juice, remove the paper labels and pull tab, and wash and dry the cans. Put a small amount of rice in each can. You can hold your finger over the top and shake it, to see if it seems like the right amount. Place a strip of duct tape on waxed paper ( the waxed paper us just to act as a backing for the tape while you cut it). Trace a circle using the bottom of the can, and cut out enough duct tape circle to have one for each can. Peel the waxed paper off, and carefully apple the tape over the top of each can. Then make a ring of hot glue around the edge of the duct tape to further seal the top. Lastly, put one piece of electrical tape around the middle of each can. If you use all four colors, red, blue, yellow, and green, and have 12 cans, you will end up with 3 cans of each color. You can then use the songs to learn colors in Spanish (or other languages), such as Tocan Las Maracas (on Rhythm of the Rocks CD), or try using some of the egg-shaking songs.

Jingle Bracelets

Materials:

  • elastic ponytail holders or Chinese jump rope (one jump rope will make 7 jingle bracelets)
  • elasticized gold thread
  • scissors
  • jingle bells (available by the handful at craft and fabric stores, or on cards at variety stores)

Instructions:
If using Chinese jump rope, cut into seven inch lengths, and form form bracelets by tying ends in a knot.
Using elasticized thread, tie 4 jingle bells on each bracelet, Space them equally around the bracelet.

Comments:Songs which use hand movements are quite fun when using these bracelets. examples: Tingalayo (can be found on Raffi recording), and A Rum Sum Sum (can be found on Rhythm of the Rocks, by MaryLee and Nancy)

Quilting Hoop Drum

Materials :

  • 14" quilting hoop (available at craft and fabric stores)
  • white glue
  • heat-shrink nylon fabric (sold at airplane supply stores- you can order from
    Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. PH. 1-877-477-7823.
    Specify item # 09-00500. One yard of fabric will be enough for 8 14" drums, and is under $4 a yard).
  • clear polyurethane and brush to apply it
  • acrylic paint or permanent markers for making design on drum
  • wooden dowel
  • wooden ball with pre-drilled hole the same size diameter as the dowel

Instructions:
Cut a 17" square of dacron. Spread a bead of glue on opposing faces of the two hoops. Place the inner hoop on a flat surface and overlay the fabric square so that the sides overhang evenly. Loosen the nut on the outer hoop so you can spread it enough to fit it over the inner hoop. Tighten the wing nut as you adjust the fabric, working out any wrinkle and puckers. Let glue dry. Heat-shrink the fabric by running an iron at the nylon setting repeatedly over the fabric. (each drum will tighten a little differently and have a slightly different sound).Trim the excess fabric with an exacto knife. Paint a design on the drum, if desired, and finish by sealing all surfaces with a coating of clear polyurethane.
Make the drumstick by cutting a dowel in 8" piece. Glue small wooden ball on the end.

Native American Rattle Craft
More Crafts
You can make a simple yet beautiful Native American rattle from a twig, yarn and beads. When you shake it, it makes a rattling sound. Many Native Americans made ceremonial rattles from natural objects (like deer hooves strung on twigs or rib bones). In this craft, we use beads, spools, washers, or shells as noise-makers.

Supplies needed:

  • A y-shaped twig
  • Yarn
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Feathers, beads, buttons, washers, spools, and/or shells with holes in them.
/
/ Wind yarn around a y-shaped twig, covering it entirely. Start and end the winding with knots (or tape, if the children cannot make knots). Along the way, wind in a few decorative objects, like feathers or beads.
/ Tie a short piece of yarn to one arm of the "y." Thread a few beads, washers, spools, or other small objects onto the yarn. Tie the other end of the yarn onto the other arm of the twig.
Paper Plate Maracas Craft
More Crafts
A maraca is a Latin American and Tupi rattle. The original maracas were made from hollow gourds filled with pebbles or seeds.
You can make simple maracas from one or two paper plates stapled together, containing dried beans or popcorn. These are fun to make at a party for preschoolers - you can then make a lot of noise! /

Supplies needed:

  • One or two paper plates
  • Dried beans, rice, or popcorn
  • Stapler
  • Paint, markers, or crayons
  • Optional: crepe paper streamers
/
/ Put a handful or two of dried beans, rice, or popcorn in a paper plate. Staple a paper plate securely on top of it.
[You can use a single plate for each maraca by folding a paper plate in half, adding the beans, then stapling the rim to itself.] /
/ Decorate the maracas with crayons, markers, or paint. /
/ Optional: Staple long crepe paper streamers to the maracas.
You now have great maracas that you can use to make music. /
Rainstick
More Kinder Crafts
A simple-to-make Rainstick. /

Rainsticks are ceremonial musical instruments used to invoke the rain spirits. They are made by people who live in the deserts of northern Chile. In Chile, rainsticks are traditionally made from dead cactus tubes with hundreds of cactus spines hammered into the tube. Tiny lava pebbles cascade gently through the tube, sounding much like rain.

This rainstick is definitely not traditional. It is made from a cardboard tube (instead of the dried cactus) and aluminum foil (in place of cactus spines).

Supplies needed:

  • A paper towel tube or other long cardboard tube
  • Aluminum foil
  • Small dried beans (like lentils), unpopped popcorn, dry rice, or tiny pasta.
  • Brown paper (from a grocery bag) or construction paper
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Crayons or markers
/
/ Trace around the end of your tube onto a piece of brown paper (or construction paper).
Draw a bigger circle around that circle and then draw a lot of spokes between the two circles.
/ Cut along the spokes.
/ Put glue on the spokes and glue the cap onto one end of your tube.
/ Cut a piece of aluminum foil that is about one and half times the length of your tube and about 6 inches wide.
/ Crunch the aluminum foil into two long, thin, snake-like shapes.
Then twist each one into a spring shape.
/ Put the aluminum foil springs into your tube.
Pour some dry beans, dry rice, or unpopped popcorn into your tube. The tube should only be about 1/10 full. You can experiment to see how different amounts and different types of seeds and beans change the sound.
/ Make another cap from brown paper (the same as the first three steps) and cap your tube.
/ / Optional: Decorate the tube by covering it with brown paper or construction paper, and then making designs with crayons or markers (or cut-out paper or stickers).
Rainforest designs are nice, especially brightly-colored butterflies, frogs, and flowers. Tiny construction paper butterflies (like the one on the right) are nice glued onto the rainstick. /

Straw Oboes

Description:
Reed-like instruments are created from plastic drinking straws.
You will need:

  • plastic or paper drinking straws (paper straws work better, if you can find them)
  • scissors
  • overhead projector (optional)

Instructions:
This activity takes some practice to master. You should become proficient at playing a straw oboe before presenting this activity to your students.
Flatten one end (about 2 cm) of a drinking straw. Use your teeth or pinch it between your fingers. Use scissors to make angular cuts as shown, on each side of the flattened end.
Insert the straw into your mouth. Position the reed flaps just inside your lips and apply very light pressure with your lips. Blow through the straw. The reeds should vibrate and produce a tone. You may need to move the straw around slightly to locate the best position for creating your musical note. You can cut portions off the non-flattened end of the straw to create different pitched tones.

Building a 5-note set of Panpipes

Begin by getting approximately 2 feet of 1/2-inch/schedule-40 PVC sprinkler pipe.

Inches / Centimeters
C / 6 1/16 / 15.4 / 1
D / 5 3/8 / 13.6 / 2
E / 4 3/4 / 12.0 / 3
G / 3 15/16 / 9.8 / 5
A / 3 7/16 / 8.7 / 6

1) Cut the tubing into the five sections listed on the left.

2) Place a penny over one end of each pipe and cover each penny with a 2" X 2" square piece of duct tape.

3) Wrap about 18 inches of duct tape around the set as shown on the right. Blow across the top of each pipe — it's just like blowing on a soda bottle

Building a 5-note Glockenspiel

Inches / Centimeters
D / 11 15/16 / 30.4 / 1
E / 11 1/4 / 28.6 / 2
F# / 10 9/16 / 26.8 / 3
A / 9 11/16 / 24.6 / 5
B / 9 1/8 / 23.2 / 6

Get ten feet of 1/2-inch Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) pipe — also referred to as Electrical Conduit, or EMT Conduit.

1) With a metal pipe cutter (not a hacksaw), cut the tubing into the five sections listed on the left (some full-service hardware stores will do this for you).

2) Arrange your tubes as shown so that the longest is on the bottom and the shortest is on top.

3) String the tubes together (simple knots will do) along both sides so there are 2 inches between each tube. You may also place the tubes on two pieces of felt or foam rubber.

4) Try different "mallets" (metal/wood/plastic) to obtain a variety of timbre

Make a Tambourine

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Add some jingle-jangle to your next sing-along with an inexpensive, homemade tambourine. (Hesitant parents take note: this instrument is quieter than the store-bought variety.)

Materials

  • 10 metal bottle caps*
  • piece of scrap wood
  • large nail
  • hammer
  • 10- or 20-gauge craft wire
  • neddle-nose pliers (optional)
  • 7-inch wooden embroidery hoop
  • corrugated cardboard
  • colored plastic or electrical tape

X

Instructions

  1. Punch a hole in each bottle cap by placing them, one at a time, top down on the piece of scrap wood, setting the tip of a nail in the center of the cap, then tapping the nail with a hammer. Use caution, as the edges of the holes will be sharp.
  2. Cut five 3-inch lengths of the wire. Using your fingers (or pliers, if necessary), bend a half-inch hook at one end, as shown. Thread two bottle caps onto each wire, top to top for the best sound.
  3. Separate the two parts of the embroidery hoop and screw the outer hoop tightly closed. Cut five 1-inch squares of cardboard for spacers. Cut a length of tape about 5 inches long and lay it sticky-side up. Place a spacer in the center of the tape, aligning the edges, and tape it in place, as shown. Reinforce the spacer with more tape. Repeat with the other four spacers, taping them evenly around the hoop.
  4. Between each of the spacers, hook the bent end of one wire over one hoop, then bend the other end over the second hoop.
  5. Use short lengths of tape to cover and secure the wire ends to the hoops. Now, tambourine man, play a song for me!

Tips:

What's the Buzz?

If you've ever wanted to chirr like a cicada or buzz like a bee, just take this humming noisemaker for a spin. When you swing it around by its string, the passing air causes the rubber band to vibrate, resulting in a droning insect sound.

Materials

  • Pencil eraser
  • Craft stick
  • Index card
  • Staple
  • String
  • Flat rubber band

Instructions

  1. To make one, start by slipping a pencil eraser onto each end of a craft stick.
  2. Trim an index card into a 3-inch square. (We decorated ours with wasplike stripes.) Center the card between the erasers and staple it to the craft stick.
  3. Tie one end of a yard of string on the craft stick between the card and eraser. Stretch a flat rubber band around the eraser ends, as shown. Get your hummer buzzing by swinging it in a circle above your head.

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.

Supplies: 1/2″ wooden beads, wooden skewers, and glue (the article called for “tacky glue” but not being crafty enough to know what that was, I used carpenter’s wood glue):