Welcome to another Wacky Workshops project – musical instruments to make.

There are so many benefits to teaching kids about music. If you have the resources to teach them to play an instrument, even better.

However, instruments and lessons can be expensive. These craft projects cost next to nothing to make and are so much fun to play with.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO MAKE

1. DRUM

These have quite a good sound and really last the test of time. I made one as an example craft for my Wacky Workshops students about eight years ago. It has been played with by countless students and the Goddesses are still enjoying making musical mayhem with it.

MATERIALS

• Large tin can – like bulk coffee or baby formula comes in.
• Parchment paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• 2 x A4 size coloured paper
• Stickers, embellishments for decorating
• Ribbon
• Large rubber band
• 2 x thin wooden dowelling sticks and wooden beads to fit ends

METHOD

• Glue the coloured paper onto the outside of the tin. You could have the children draw on this first, or use stickers and embellishments to decorate later. Or you could opt to skip the paper and paint the tin if you prefer.

• Use the end of the tin as a guide to cut eight circles of parchments paper – they should be around 5 cm larger than the circumference of the tin to allow them to bend over the sides sufficiently.
• Use PVA glue to layer the parchment paper circles on top of each other. You will need to let this dry completely before the children can play with the drum and it could take several days. The layers give the drum a decent sound and also enough strength to withstand energetic drummers.
• Attach the parchment paper layers to the open end of the drum with a rubber band and secure with glue for extra strength.
• Cover the rubber band with a ribbon.
• Have the children decorate the drum as they wish.
• Glue the wooden beads to one end of each stick and you are good to go.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO MAKE

2. – STRAW PAN FLUTE

This craft is ridiculously easy to make, but a little harder to master the technique of playing.

MATERIALS

•  8 x plastic drinking straws
• Sticky tape
• Scissors
• Pin

METHOD

• Line up the straws so the ends are in a straight line.
• Use the sticky tape to hold them together.
• Cut a diagonal line along one end of the attached straws, using the scissors.
• Use the pin to pierce holes in the straws at random intervals to help create different sounds.
• If you blow directly into the straws you will not create noise, so you must blow into them sideways to make music.

Playing this flute can be tricky for younger children so you could get them to practice on a straw flute. This one is extra easy to play.

• Just flatten one end of the straw with plyers and then use scissors to cut that end into a ‘v’ shape.
• Use a pin to put holes along the straw.
• To play, place the ‘v’ shaped end into your mouth so that the ‘v’ end is just past the inside of your lips. Press the ‘v’ with your lips while blowing.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO MAKE

3. – KAZOO

The kazoo was invented by an American named Alabama Vest and made to his specifications by a German clock in the 1840s.

They are usually made of metal or plastic but for this one, all you need is some paper and a cardboard roll.

MATERIALS

• Cardboard tube
• Waxed paper
• Rubber band
• Paints, markers, stickers etc for decorating.

METHOD

• Have your child decorate the tube.
• Use a pencil to make a small hole about 5 cm from one end of the tube.
• Cut a circle about twice the size of the hole in the tube from the waxed paper.
• Attach the paper circle to the end of the tube where the hole is (but be sure not to cover the hole) and secure with a rubber band.
• Place the open end of the kazoo over your mouth and make noises like ‘ahhhh’ and ‘oooh’. Blowing into the kazoo will not produce sound as you need to vibrate air from your lungs by humming.
• Have fun experimenting by humming different syllables, covering the hole, touching the paper with your finger while playing it. You can even experiment with different materials. What happens when you replace the waxed paper with foil? Or plastic wrap?

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO MAKE

4. COMB HARMONICA

This is a great way to demonstrate to children how all sound is made up of vibrations which produce sound waves. The children can actually feel those vibrations with their lips when they play this harmonica. Getting your lips in just the right position to make noise is the tricky bit. Just keep experimenting.

MATERIALS

• Plastic comb
• Waxed paper

METHOD

• Fold the paper over the teeth of the comb. You can hold it in place with your hands or use rubber bands to secure at each end.
• Put your lips lightly against the comb and hum. The vibrations tickle your lips.

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Happy crafting and have a musical and gleeful week, Tamuria