How Make a Musical Instrument Out of House Stuff

When it's summertime and the kids are at home, a good project will keep them busy for hours. Satisfy their love of music along with their love of crafts by helping them make homemade musical instruments. Just gather up what you will need and let the fun begin!

Things You'll Need

• oatmeal box with cover
• yarn
• hole punch
• paper plates
• glue
• jingle bells
• pot lids
• paper towel rolls
• water bottle
• rice
• masking tape

Instructions

1. Make a hole in the center of the cover and in the center of the bottom of the oatmeal box. String a piece of yarn about a yard long through the holes. Have your child decorate the box so that it can be used as a drum. Use spoons as drumsticks to make a great sound.

2. Staple or glue two paper plates together. They will need to be facing each other. Use your hole punch to punch holes around the edges of the plates. Tie jingle bells onto short pieces of sting or yarn and then tread them through the holes of the plates and tie them on. Let your child decorate her very own tambourine!

3. Tie yarn around the handles of your pot lids to make cymbal handles. Teach your child to band the lids together to make the sound of cymbals. This is a great one for very small children.

4. Punch a hole in each end of two paper towel rolls. String your yarn through the ends of the holes and tie two jingle bells to each string. You will have child-size, homemade hand bells! Let your child decorate them in any way he would like.

5. Take an empty water bottle and put about a cup of rice inside. Screw the lid onto the bottle and secure it with masking tape. Let you child decorate her new shaker. This one is a favorite with kids, so you might want to try letting them take turns with the shaker.

Tips & Warnings

• Set a time limit on the time your kids can play with these instruments. Store them all the instruments together in a plastic container for easy usage.