What to do after Spring Break? Homemade Instruments!: Sandy Toms Instruments To Make: These notes come from sever

» SandyT_2 - Sandy Toms Instruments To Make: These notes come from sever

Sandy Toms
Instruments To Make:

These notes come from several sources. Some sources were deleted accidentally.
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Handmade Instruments (web site)
http://www.menc.org/IHWE/ihwes1.html#ins... (has instructions)
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Fruit Shakes
MATERIALS NEEDED (plus S.F. Bay Area prices in quotes) assorted plastic fruits (80 cents to $2 each) #8 buck shot ($4/pound in a small quantity. Cheap in lg. bags)
light brown or tan wax letter sealer ($3) glue gun small drill or awl to make a hole in the fruit; stickers from the fruit that you buy at the grocery store
WARNING: Hands must be washed after handling lead shot. Not for children under 3
DIRECTIONS:
Drill a small hole in the bottom of the fruit, only as big as you need to put the buck shot in. Put a couple teaspoons of buck shot in the fruit. Seal hole with the glue gun. Melt a little of the brown wax over the glue gun plug to disguise the hole because the plastic is clear. Stick a fruit market sticker on the fruit to make it look more real. (I got great organic stickers.)
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Brass Conduit Instruments
Would you like a set of very primitive brass instruments? Here's how you can get all five notes of the pentaton: Go to the hardware store and ask them to cut some inch-and-a-half conduit pipes to the following ratios:
x is do
7/8 of x is re
4/5 of x is mi
2/3 of x is so
3/5 of x is la
It's been a long time since I've done this, but if I remember correctly, a three-foot long pipe gives you C below middle C. These instruments don't give you the most dulcit sound in the world, but they're good for a novelty. I find that children are able to play the lower notes more easily than the higher notes. Besides serving as wind instruments, the instruments can give a percussive effect by the player patting one end of the pipe.
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Maracas
Glue a piece of aluminum foil to one end of a toilet paper roll. Put some rice in the roll. Glue the other end with aluminum foil. Decorate with construction paper and wha-la. Instant "Maracas".

'Australian' Maracas Cut two pieces of cardboard about the size and the shape of a boomerang. Next glue craft sticks the size of tongue dispensers to each side of the cardboard. I used six per side. That is a total of 24 craft sticks. The students can decorate the instrument after it is dry. Each student will need two. These make great rhythm instruments and my classes loved making them. I used these in grades k through 3.
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RAIN STICKS
I have instructions on how to make Rain Sticks out of carpet rolls...they are great...a friend of mine makes these and sells them if you want it juste-mail me...I will send it via e-mail to you.David Stone cakebear@aol.com

"GLASS HARMONICAS"
collect eight 2 liter empty pop bottles and fill them with varying levels of water to create a scale. Then, blow across the top to demonstrate the sound. (Glasses and water may also be used, but plastic bottles are not breakable.) Discuss how the amounts of water affect the pitch. Students could even create their own tunes using the pop bottles perhaps accompanied by other students with their home-made rhythm instruments.

Also a very neat gimmick is the "freaka" --sold in toys stores under various names. It is a ridged tube (like a vacuum cleaner hose). When you swing it around it makes sound. BUT you can use it as a "telephone": hold one end to the child's ear and sing (softly, please) into the other end. Then hold the mouth end to the child's mouth as he/she sings the echo. This lets them concentrate on their own voice.

I use the curved PVC pipe and make them into "telephones" .....the child can hold one
end to their ear while singing in the other end. It also looks like a telephone. I got this idea from Marilyn Wood at a workshop she did for us here in Ky. I have been forever grateful for it.....my children always love playing with them and it really helps them sing on pitch and/or in their singing voices.
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African Rain Sticks
Materials Needed
Large Cardboard Tube (at least 4 feet or longer, approximately 1/4 to ? inch thick) Nails (polished, at least three different sizes), Hammer, Brown Paper Bag, Scissors, Glue
Small Paint Brush, Fabric (cut to fit the circumference of the tube, but a little longer that
the tube on both ends) Rice, Seeds, Beans, Tiny Shells (any other small objects to go inside), Yarn (or other material for decorating)
1. Hammer long and short nails into cardboard tube in a spiral.
2. Using brown bag, cut two circles, 2 inches bigger on all sides than the
circumference of the tube. Cut slits around circle.
3. Using only one circle, apply glue to slits. Cover one end of tube with the circle. Fold
down the slits and gently press them to the side of the tube to secure. Allow time for
section to dry.
4. Fill one-tenth of the tube with the filling of your choice. Seal the open end of the tube
in the same manner as before.
5. Carefully apply glue to a one inch strip down the length of the tube Attach one end of
the fabric to glued area and gently press to adhere. Continue applying glue and
attaching fabric around the tube. A larger section can be glued at this time if you feel
secure. Make sure you smooth out the fabric as much as possible as you attache it
to the tube.
6. After the fabric has been placed around the tube. slit the ends of the fabric in the same manner that the paper circles were cut. Apply glued to one side of the slits and firmly but neatly press fabric down to cover ends .of the tube. Allow entire tube to dry completely. When tube is dry you can leave it as is or decorate the outside with a few
embellishments to add a personal flair to your rainstick. If you have any questions e-mail me or call me at Happy rain making..... David Stone, cakebear@aol.com
Orff Music Specialist, Liberty Elementary School, Oldham County, Kentucky
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BAMBOO RAINSTICK
Materials:1 tikki torch--buy the tallest, straightest one you find. They can be
found at import stores and garden departments of hardware stores during spring and summer, 1 package of bamboo skewers, 1 tube of wood filler--We used ZAR Wood Patch, neutral color latex, leather scraps for the ends, about 6 of 1 thick Styrofoam, cork, or wood circles, strong glue--We used E-6000 Adhesive Sealant. fine steel wool, garden clippers that you can easily hold in your hand to cut the skewers a pencil, a nail or small file, a 1/8 drill bit and a drill (A drill press saves much time.) a hammer and metal pipe or similar devise to pound out the center, membrane of thin bamboo in the bamboo stick, a saw, masking tape to wrap around the torch for a smooth cut when sawing, some fish tank gravel (approximately 1/4-1/2 cup per stick) You can use a wood burning set, permanent pen, leather scraps, beads, and feathers to decorate the rainstick when it's done.
1. Saw the torch off the bamboo stick. You can make two 2 1/2 ft. rainsticks or one 5
ft. rainstick. If you saw below the joint, you will have only one end to seal. Wrap
masking tape around the place you plan to saw for a smoother cut.
2. Take the hammer and pound the metal pipe in end of the hollow bamboo tube to
break the thin membrane of bamboo so the rock will be able to go the full length of
the rainstick. Leave the membrane on one end if that is possible.
3. Drill holes starting about 1 1/2 inches from the top and bottom. Make the holes
about 3/8 inches apart in a 45 degree spiral, like a barber pole, all the way down the
stick. In a two foot rainstick, Joy drills about 100 holes. There are about four inches
between rows as the holes spiral down. Drill only through the top layer. Do not drill
through the other side of the rainstick!
4. Next, insert the dull end of a bamboo skewer into the hole until it touches the other
side of the rainstick and cannot move any more. With a sharp pencil mark on the
skewer where to cut it, so that it will be flat when it is cut. Then pull it slightly out of
the hole, and cut it slightly below that line. Use the garden sheers to cut. Then
take the file or nail and push the skewer firmly into the hole. It should be indented
enough to later put a small amount of wood filler in the holes to keep the skewers in
place. Smooth with a damp paper towel. Later when it has dried, lightly rub the
wood filler with steel wool.
5. After all of the holes have been filled with skewers and wood filler, find or make a
plug for the open end(s). Measure the diameter of the opening(s) and get something
that will fit snugly. Possible solutions could be a circle of wood, Styrofoam, or cork.
If you have two openings, glue a plug into one end.
6. Fill with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of fine fish tank gravel. Cover the other end with your hand,
tip the rainstick to make the gravel fall to your hand, and listen to the amount of
seconds it takes for the sound rain to stop. The longer it takes, the better the stick.
When you are satisfied with the sound, plug the other end.
7. Trace around the ends onto a piece of scrap leather. Cut and glue the circles onto
both ends. Use your imagination to decorate the rainstick further. We like to burn
Indian designs into the sides, then attach feathers and beads with leather thongs.
Making one of these authentic rainsticks requires much time and patience, but the
completed product is well worth the effort. In the next issue I will tell you how to
make a novelty rainstick that is far from authentic, has a sharper sound, but requires
much less construction time. If you have and comments, please write to me at
21012 Summit Rd., LosGatos, California 95030-8501.
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RAINSTICKS
Materials:
a black 1 1/2 inch x 10 foot plastic plumbing pipe, have the clerk cut a 1 foot width of 48 inch wide, 1/2 inch hardware, cloth (It looks like chicken wire with 1/2 inch squares.)
tin snips, a dog leash and a dowel or pipe to pull the mesh inside the tube, 10 white 1 1/2 inch PVC caps, Approximately 2 1/2 cups of fine fish tank gravel (smaller than 1/4 inch rocks), isopropyl alcohol or acetone, work gloves
1. Remove the white lettering on the black pipe with isopropyl alcohol. If that does not
work, use acetone.
2. Saw the plastic pipe into five 24 inch lengths. (about 10 minutes by electric saw)
3. With the tin snips, cut a 1 1/4 inch width of 48" hardware cloth for each rainstick.
(about 5 minutes each)
4. Hook the dog leash onto one end of the strip, and drop it through the tube. Start
folding the strip in a zigzag. Push the strip as you go with the dowel, and gently pull
with the dog leash. Keep folding until it is spread out the entire length of the tube.
(about 10 minutes each)
5. Place one cap onto the end. Then, pour about 1/2 cup of fish tank gravel into the
open end. Cap the other end. (about 5 minutes each) Tip the rainstick on one end,
and listen to the rocks fall to the other end. Then tip it upside down. This simulates
the sound of rainfall. In approximately 2 1/2 hours of construction time, you will have
five rainsticks that look like magic wands. I have watched both children and adults
mesmerized and completely relaxed as they sit and tip rainsticks over and over.
The sound of rainsticks is very effective when singing rain songs or reciting rain poetry. Teachers, students, puppeteers, magicians, storytellers, , and even stressed-out executives enjoy them. If you have discovered a unique way to use a rainstick, please share your idea by writing to me at 21012 Summit Rd., Los Gatos, CA 95030-8501.
jpgreene@hooked.net
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Tinikling poles I used 1" PVC pipe. I also glued an L fitting on each end of the PVC pipes so that the kids wouldn't bang their fingers on the floor. I didn't have to buy blocks of wood then to raise them above the floor when playing them. The kids didn't trip over them, either.
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Shakere making a shekere. They could give you more information on it, or connect you with the teacher. Their web site is www.panix.com/~openctr/
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Marimbas from Larry D. Hill:
In his book "Make Your Own Marimbas", Jon gives step-by-step instructions
for the process of community marimba making and tuning (including
optionally tuning the overtones). I believe that the sole US distributor
is John's Music Center in Seattle - (800)473-5194.
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Thunkers Measurements(They're black plastic tubes about 35 or 36 inches long with a diameter of about 1 1/8 inches.) I went to the golf store and bought a few to try, then ordered a whole box of 50. It cost me probably $20-$25 to make a dozen sets of six.)
From: jpgreene@hooked.net (Paul and Carol Greene
It is important to have a different color for each note to make it easier to recognize each length. (Hardware stores often sell packages of varied colored tapes. Maybe your school district even has some various colors of tape at an instructional materials center.
I cut the golf tubes slowly with a radial arm saw and wrapped wide colored tape on the ends...a different color for each note. On the C's I had a wide red strip (4") for the low C and a narrow red (2") for the high C. I wrote the name of the note on the tape in permanent pen. It took me about 3 or 4 hours to do everything....I wrapped the tape watching TV. These are the lengths if you want to make them:
11 7/8" C (narrow red)
14 1/4" A (yellow)
16 1/2" G (blue)
19 1/2" E (white)
21 7/8" D (orange)
24 5/8" C (wide red)

2 G's can be cut from one tube (with at the most, 1" of waste)
D and high C can be cut from one tube (exactly)
E and A can be cut from the same tube (exactly)
Low C takes one tube and the other part is waste.

Thunkers are played by holding them in one hand and thunking them on the palm. By playing them on the palm, the children realize it quickly if they are hitting too hard. If their hand starts stinging, they just hit the palm with less force! Emphasize that they are not played on other people, and the thunker will be taken away if used as a weapon. (I seldom have to take away a thunker. If I do, these children just clap instead of
thunking.)
1. as a primitive brass instrument. Put your lips inside the tube and
blow. It is difficult to get a good sound that way, but the
children think it's funny.

2. as a cider jug. Put one hand over one end and blow across the edge on
the other end.

3. as a seashell. Hold it up to your ear. The zephyrs in the room are
just active enough to play the pitch continuously on a very soft dynamic
level.

I can't swear to it, but I think that you can get the same pitch by
standing the pipe up on a table and striking it on the edge with a
xylophone mallet. I tried to get the same pitch by drawing a violin
bow across the edge, just so that I could brag that the instrument is a
combination woodwind/brass/percussion/string instrument, but alas, it
didn't work that way.

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Drum Heads
Drum heads can be made from grocery bags soaked in cornstarch and allowed
to dry. These are then stretched between embroidery hoops. Cardboard is
then used to form drum sides and separate the two heads.
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Drums: On the hand drums. Get the clear packaging tape from Wal-Mart.
It is about an inch and a half wide. Cut both sides off of the Gallon
Coffee can and on one end cut the tape and stretch it across the top of the
can. Crossing the tape each time such as this.an astrict. (SP) * You
can make the top as strong as you need it. I have one that I made three
years a go. and it still has the same tape on it. It makes a very firm
head. You can also do it with a five gallon bucket.

I have made some Palm tree drums with Elementary students using hollowed
out palm trees and Raw hide. They make great bongo and conga drums. I
hope that this helps
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Why not try this activity when you are in charge of large groups?
I have even taught this game to groups of sixty children at a time in the
primary grades. The throwing moves are the only moves that I do not teach
first graders. Lummi sticks can easily be made by cutting 3/4" x 36"
dowels in half, but that can get costly for big groups. Here is a way to
make them by recycling your old newspapers. The finished sticks are also
safer since the children will be less likely to get hit with a flying
stick, and the children tend to be more daring by trying more difficult
moves.

Supplies:

12 sheets newspaper approximately 14" x 24" each
2 sheets butcher paper, fadeless, or wrapping paper approximately 8" x 14"
masking tape
permanent pens
white glue

Directions:

1. Place 6 sheets of newspaper on top of each other.
2. Make a fold on the bottom of the pack of newspaper about 1/4-3/8".
Fold over twice more until it rolls easily. Then roll into a tight tube as
straight and even as possible.
3. Wrap strips of masking tape around the top, bottom, then 1/4, 1/2, and
3/4 of the way down the tube.
4. Make the second tube the same way.
5. Glue the sheets of butcher paper as you roll the paper around the tubes.
6. Decorate the tubes with the permanent pens.
Playing the game:

Learn the song first since it is the glue that keeps everyone together.
Then partners sit cross-legged Indian style facing each other no more than
two stick lengths apart, vertically hold lower half of the sticks. Sing
each rhythm pattern twice.

Do each verse twice: (Change the move for #3 in each new verse.)
Rhythm: 1-2-3- Lummi stick pattern for verse one.
Ma koo ay 1. Hit bottom of both sticks down on floor
G G E 2. Hit top sides of both sticks together
1 2 3 3. Hit tip of right stick on floor.

Ko tay o 1. Hit bottom of both sticks down on floor
G G E 2. Hit top sides of both sticks together
1 2 3 3. Hit tip of left stick on floor.

Ay -- koo-ee 1. Hit bottom of both sticks down on floor

G F E 2. Hit top sides of both sticks together
1 2 3 + 3. Hit tip of right stick on floor.

tah -- nah 1. Hit bottom of both sticks down on floor
F D 2. Hit top sides of both sticks together
1 2 3 3. Hit tip of left stick on floor.

Mah koo ay 1. Hit bottom of both sticks down on floor
F F D 2. Hit top sides of both sticks together
1 2 3 3. Hit tip of right stick on floor.

Ko tay o 1. Hit bottom of both sticks down on floor
F F D 2. Hit top sides of both sticks together
1 2 3 3. Hit tip of left stick on floor.

Ay -- koo-ee 1. Hit bottom of both sticks down on floor
F E D 2. Hit top sides of both sticks together
1 2 3 + 3. Hit tip of right stick on floor.

tah -- nah 1. Hit bottom of both sticks down on floor
E C 2. Hit top sides of both sticks together
1 2 3 3. Hit tip of left stick on floor.

Other verses -- the same moves for 1 & 2, then the new move for 3 beat:
2. Tap the tips of both sticks on the floor.
3. Hit tip of R. stick to partner's R. stick, then tip of L. stick to
partner's L. stick.
4. Partners hit both sticks together at the same time.
5. Turn the R. stick toward your body, let go when it is straight up, and
it will fall right into your upturned palm. Do the same with the L. stick.
6. Flip both sticks at the same time.
7. Point both sticks flat toward your partner, toss both sticks to your
opposite hand by throwing the left stick over the right stick.
8. Partners throw R. sticks to each other at exactly the same time, then
L. sticks
9. Partners throw both sticks at the same time. (One throws sticks through
the center, the other throws outside, carefully keeping the sticks
vertical.)

I always sit on the floor and demonstrate the sticks by first
hitting the sticks on the floor 4x, then flipping them one hand at a time
4x, then tossing sticks to the other hand 4x, then flipping both sticks at
the same time. The children are always impressed with the flipping
movements, even though they are quite easy to do. Have fun becoming
skillful at Lummi Sticks.
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Boom Pipes
I cut a carpet square into small pieces to fit at the end of the boom pipe. I was going to glue these pieces to the bottom of the boom pipes so I could have movable pipes (my floor is linoleum) I first attached the carpet with duck tape as an experiment but they never came loose (almost a year now) so I never had to glue them. This may help your thumping noise.
Boom Pipes Measurements

Carol Jeff Steve Daigle Dan
Hi to Lo Greene LaMarca

E 19

D 22

C 24 3/4 25 25

B 26 1/4 27 26 3/8

A 29 1/2 31 29 3/4 31

G 33 1/2 34 33 3/4 34

F# 35 1/2

F 37 3/4 38 38 38

E 40 1/2 41 40 1/2

D 45 45 45 1/2 45

C 50 1/2 51 51 51

B 55

A 61 61

G 68 1/4 68 1/2 68-1/2

Steve's measurements are from the open end of the pipe to the bottom of
the cap. If I had measured the pipes with the caps off, each
measurement would be slightly less.

Carol Greene: jpgreene@hooked.net
http://www.hooked.net/users/jpgreene
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Drums from Coffee Cans (Deborah Jeter)
I made some pretty good sounding drums from 3 lb coffee cans opened on both ends. For a drum head I used the plastic sheeting used to insulate windows here in Michigan. It is really inexpensive. I made a dozen drums with $3.00 worth. After cutting it to fit and taping it fairly tightly across the top with clear packaging tape, I heat it gently with a hair dryer and it shrinks to fit. It lasted a long time with my special ed classes. We
played them with wooden mallets. They have a nice ringing sound. After awhile the heads loosened a bit but tightened up when heated once again.If the heads do puncture, they are a snap to replace. This clear plastic is easily decorated with permanent markers. The kids like that! joates@htonline.com
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-- posted by SandyT_2