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Making Music

© Alicia Luthy

Kids love to make music. Whether it is noise to use or music to them, they seem to energize in their own abilities to make the different sounds. Here are some ideas for making musical instruments, activities, and learning projects. I hope you ejoy these as much as we (my 2 & 4 yr. olds did the experimenting) did coming up with the ideas.

QUOTE- I think it's a mother's duty to occassionally embarrass her children. -Cher

BUILDING INSTRUMENTS-

Maracas- Let the kids put a few handfuls of rice in a paper cup. With masking tape, tape a second paper cup to the first. Let the kids decorate the cups with crayons.

Clean out a 16 oz. plastic soda bottle. Fill bottle with things that make noise. Screw cap back on bottle. Try different items to compare and contrast the noises. Some suggestions are rice, beans, paper clips, an old bead necklace, popcorn, coins, and pasta. Let kids glue paper around bottle and decorate it.

Put several bb pellets in a film canister. Tape the lid on. To decorate, paper mache the container. When dry, paint them. As an alternative, you could use sand or rice in the containers.

Tamborines- Give the kids two paper plates for each kid and let them decorate with markers, crayons, and/or stickers. Put rice or beans in between the plates and hot glue, tape, or staple the ends together.

Bell Gloves- Each child will need one glove that fits them. Sew a jingle bell to each finger on the glove.

Wrist Bells- Pick out a small piece of fabric, about a 2" wide strip. Then fold it over and sew together. Sew on some bells. Add velcro fastners to the ends of the strip to fasten.

Drum- Use a container with a plastic lid. Decorate the outside of the container with any craft supplies you have.

Parade Drum- Clean out a large cardboard ice cream container. Punch 2 holes in opposite sides near the bottom. String a piece of ribbon through the holes and tie ends together.

Rythym Blocks- Staple sandpaper to two small wooden blocks for your child. Let them rub the blocks together for a neat sound.

Rainsticks- Start with an empty paper towel roll. Cover one end of the tube with a cardboard circle. Secure it with tape. Pour in a few spoonfuls of rice. Cover the end with another cardboard circle and tape to secure. Sponge paint the stick with bright colors. Circle yarn around the ends to help hold tape on. It takes practice at moving it slowly to make it sound like rain, but it is better than the expensive alternative.

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