Making Musical Instruments From Everyday Objects
If you remember back to being a child, I think you will agree that finding ways to make a band was great fun. Nowadays, we may have the ability to buy "real" musical instruments for those as young as even toddlers, but making your own instruments is a fun and satisfying project.
Your children will love the time you spend with them making the instruments, and love to perform their compositions with their own creation. You will love the money it will save your wallet! This getting back to basics idea is bound to spark your creativity!
Glass Xylophone
What To Gather
- Five to seven glass cups
- Water
- Drumstick or kitchen silverware
How To Assemble
- Fill each glass with different amounts of water to achieve different notes.
- Line the glasses up from the most to least full.
- Tap the glasses gently with the drumstick or spoon to make different notes.
For a different sound, dip your forefinger into one of the glasses and then run it around the rim of the glass. Each glass will sing a different note!
Maracas
Recycling never sounded so good! These creative maracas will spice up your recycling, and your band!
What You Need
- Two plastic drink bottles, cleaned, with labels removed
- Dried beans or peas
- Paint and paintbrushes*
- Super Glue*
Putting It Together
- Paint the bottles any way you like. Add other embellishments if desired. Let dry.
- Fill the bottle about a quarter of the way full of dried beans or peas.
- Have an adult put some Super Glue around the threads of the bottle, where the lid goes. Quickly put the lid on and tighten it. Let glue dry so that the lid cannot be removed.
* Painting is not necessary to this prioject, and your child will still have a lot of fun. After all, they are just in to make noise!
* If you do not super glue the lid, do make sure to watch your child with this instruments. We don't want anyone choking on small pieces!
Tambourines
These tambourines can fit into any budget, and provide plenty of play time!
What You Need
- Two paper plates
- Markers, glitter glue, stickers and other decorative items
- Rice
- Glue
- Paper towel
Creativity First
- Decorate the bottoms of the paper plates with markers, glitter glue, stickers and anything else you like. Let dry.
- Add a handful of rice to one of the paper plate after laying it right side up on the table.
- Apply glue to the plate about ¼ inch from the edge all the way around the circle. Make sure that you glue line has no gaps, but be careful it is not to thick.
- Place the other plate upside down on top of the first one, so that the decorated sides are now both on the outside.
- Squeeze the edges together. Wipe off any excess glue.
- Set aside to dry.
- When dry, Have fun making music!
Cymbals
These fun cymbals should be used by someone who has a bit of control. Hard smashing may damage the instrument from further use.
What You Need
- Two foil pie plates
- Two strips of cloth
- Scissors
- Strong tape -masking tape, duck tape, or packing tape
What to Do With It
- Place the pie plates face down on a table.
- Lay your hand on one of the pie plates. Having someone help you, lay the cloth strip over your hand and have your helpper tape the sides of the strip to create a handle for your hand to slide into.
- Cut the strip to the correct length if necessary.
- Repeat with the other pie plate.
You could probably use bandanas as straps. Be creative and look around your house to see what you could use and reuse!
Have Fun and Be Creative!
This craft is perfect for developing creativity and motor skills. These simple musical projects will provide loads of fun for your children.
You may be surprised by how many rhythm instruments your child can make with recycling and everyday objects. I hope these suggestions have helped you to get started.
Benefits of Doing Crafts
Did you know that doing crafts has both educational and therapeutic benefits? They are ideal for both the young and the old, and everyone in between. Did you know that 98% of children are creative between the ages of 3-5? That figure drops to just 30% by the time they are just 10 years old.
Studies have shown that doing crafts can:
- Increase Problem Solving Skills
- Boost Self Esteem & Confidence Levels
- Improves Concentration Span
- Teaches Perseverance
- Enhances & Stimulates Brain Activity
- Positively Affects Children's Learning Abilities
A few of the Important motor skills and mental functions doing crafts build are:
- Hand-eye Coordination
- Shape and Color Concept
- Fine Motor Skills Development
- Spatial Perception
- Movement Patterns
- Increase Motivation
- Outlet For Anger and Frustration
- Sensory Stimulation
