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Home > Arts and Crafts Projects for Kids > Musical Instruments Crafts for Kids to Make
Bang Bang ... Toot Toot ... Shake Shake ... Ding Dong. Art isn't the only way that we can communicate our artistic creativity. Music is also a way to show our artistic creativity, and it is very soothing and oh yeh ... FUN! Whether you want to make a guitar, maracas, drum, banjos, or a rattle shaker...we have some ideas for you below. Get crafting so you can shortly play some beautiful music.
Make Guitars, Banjos, & Stringed Instruments
Make Noise Makers / Maracas / Shakers
(Parental Help / Supervision Needed for This Craft) The rattle shell is another simple instrument. Split a walnut in half, and remove the kernel. With a small hammer, break a small piece from the edge of one half. Double a rubber band and stretch it over the middle of the shell. Put a stick underneath the band and tighten it even more by turning the stick. Holding the shell in one hand, drum the longer part of the stick with your other hand. The sound you'll produce will be very unusual.
The youngsters can have a lot of fun with this simple gimmick. Fold a piece of tissue or wax paper over a comb—pocket size or larger. Stretch the paper taut with both hands and, holding the comb against the mouth, hum a tune into the paper and comb. By pitching the voice just right, one can make the comb and paper sound just like a kazoo.
Fill a glass with water. Tap it lightly with a spoon. You will discover it gives forth a musical sound. Then pour out some of the water. Note the difference in the musical sound. Now arrange 8 glasses in a row on a table. Fill each with water at different levels and sound again. Notice how the pitch can be changed by adding to or reducing the amount of water in the glass. With a little experimenting you can line up the 8 glasses of water and play a scale on them. The key of G is a very good key to which the glasses may be tuned. The tapper, a silver spoon, or a slender stick with a wooden ball at the end, and the kind of table upon which the glasses rest, will make a decided difference in obtaining the tones you desire to obtain from the glasses. After you have the scale adjusted on the glasses, number them I , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. This will make your playing a tune on them easier. Yes, you can play tunes on these glasses. Try it.
Select 2 blocks of wood about I inch by 21/2 inches by 5 inches. Sandpaper them until they are smooth and all edges rounded. Paint or shellac the blocks. When dry, sandpaper one of the 2 largest surfaces of each block. Measure and cut 2 pieces of sandpaper to fit these surfaces. Glue in place. When rubbed together, the sandpapered sides will produce a delightful shuffling sound.
Cover an embroidery hoop or a box cover with unbleached muslin or heavy wrapping paper. Select 6 or 7 sleigh bells. With a knife or scissors, cut as many slits in the rim of the box top as you have bells. Insert the bell hooks into the slits and fasten in place with the safety pins.
Make Sea Shell Trumpets - Learn how to make these sea shell trumpets with the help of your parents.
How to Make Coffee Can Drums - Learn how to make this cute coffee can drum along with some denim, yarn, and a few other things.
Rhythm Paddles - Find out how to make these from ping pong paddles, bottle caps, and nails.
How to Make Wrist Bells - Learn how to make these wrist bells with ribbon and bells. A little bit of sewing is involved.
African
Drum : African Crafts Project - The finished project is about 9
inches tall.
Bonko - Make this bonko out of old cans and make a bonko for after-dinner music
Bonnie
Bagpipes with Wrapping Paper - Take a musical road to Scotland! Craft your very own pretend
bagpipes with a paper bag and recycled Gift wrapping paperrolls. All you need
now are kilts!
Bottle Cap Clinkers Craft - Kids will shake up some fun and rhythmic beauty with this bottle cap clinkers craft. This clinking rattle will bring a whole new sound to your life.
Box Guitar : Crafts Using Cardboard Boxes for Kids - This
is an easy way to make a guitar using an old shoe box or tissue box,
rubber bands, scissors, a paper-towel tube, and a pencil.
Civil
War Drumwith Oatmeal Container - While today’s children may enjoy staging mock battles,
warfare was no game during the 1860’s. Nine-year-old John
Lincoln Clem survived two wounds and Confederate imprisonment to
become the youngest non-commissioned officer in Army history. Like
Clem, most boys started as drummers, calling soldiers to meals,
waking them in the morning, and rallying them for marches. You can
make a Civil War style drum, too.
Fireworks
and Music Pinwheel Craft - When April winds blow, enjoy some outdoor play with these
educational and fun projects especially designed for blustery spring
days.
Graggers : The Purim Noisemakers Craft for Kids - Noisemakers are a fun and easy project for school age children (preschoolers will need adult assistance). You can now make your own gragger with our easy directions. Save or print the instructions so you can make your own gragger after your visit
Here
I Come Drum with Oatmeal Container - March
and dance all day with this easy-to-make oatmeal box drum. Young
children love this simple music-making craft!
Homemade
Castanets for Cinco de Mayo Craft - Most kids love musical instruments, and there’s no reason to
spend money buying them. You can whip up these castanets and kick up
your heels in a flamenco dance in a matter of minutes.
Homemade
Instruments – Rainmakers Craftfor Kids - This
homemade Rainmaker is a fun way to make lots of noise at a
celebration such as New Year's Eve or a birthday - or just for a
kitchen band!
Homemade
Tambourine Crafts with Popcorn Activities - Music is a great way to entertain children, and they love to make
noise. If you are looking for an easy craft your child can do, or you
need a project for a music or Sunday school class, consider making a
homemade tambourine
Jimi Hendrix Guitar Printable Model Craft - Print out a model of Jimi Hendrix's guitar.
Make
An African Drum Crafts Idea for Kwanzaa - Kwanzaa is often
celebrated with traditional African music, with the rhythm provided
by African drums. Here is a craft idea for making your own.
Make Your Own Kazoo for Purim Craft Activity for Kids - Learn how to make a Kazoo for the Purim Celebration with your children.
Make Your Own Tabmourine Craft - A purim craft to make a tambourine for your noise maker for Purim.
Make Your Own Gragger - Learn how to make a gragger in order to celebrate Purim.
Mexican
Bird Rattle Craft - In Mexico, paper mache rattles are popular during New Year's
celebrations. The rattles are shaken to welcome the generous
spirits of the New Year and to drive away the unhappy spirits of past
years.
Merry Maracas Made with Juice Bottle - How to make a joyous maracas set with a recycled juice bottle.
Mexican Maracas Balloon Paper Mache Craft - Learn how to make this cool musical arts and crafts project.
Milk
Jug Noise Makers - You
only need two things to make a milk jug noise maker; a milk jug with
a cap and something to put inside it that will make a lot of noise
when you shake it around.
Monkey
Pod Drum with Polynesian Petroglyphs – Bring a slice of Polynesian aura to your playroom with these
monkey pod inspired drum set made out of oatmeal containers. Bring
music to your home with a personal and creative touch.
Musical
Can - This musical can craft will certainly help kids keep the beat. The
magic of music is not just in the tune; it's in the rhythm. This
coffee can trio of rhythm instruments can help kids play along with
any of their favorite songs.
Paper
Plate Maraca - This
Paper Plate Maraca is an easy homemade instrument. Fill it with what
ever you have around the house and you're ready to make some music!
These also make great noise makers for special occasions!
Paper
Plate Tambourines and Pasta Noodles - This
is a classic craft that never loses its appeal (my 9 year old still
likes making one every now and then).
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.
Rainmaker
Craft : Thanksgiving Indians Crafts - A Native American medicine man might shake something similar to
this when calling for rain! Older children can use this craft as an
opportunity to look at Native American design - while younger
children will enjoy making a fun musical instrument!
Rain Stick Music - Make these rain sticks with dried beans, corn, or rice and a paper towel roll.
Shape
Banjo –
Bring out the music minded genius out of your kids by helping them
make musical instruments out of used cereal boxes and some coloring
or non-toxic painting materials.
Water
Bottle Maraca - Dig
through the recycling bin and make this Water Bottle Maraca, a great
homemade musical instrument for children of all ages! These also make
great noise makers for New Years, birthdays or other special
occasions!