How to Make Primitive Musical Instruments
Primitive musical instruments are the forerunners of the complex and intricate musical instruments used by professional orchestras today. Primitive instruments came from ancient culture that figured out how to make unique sounds come out of common objects. If you are interested in teaching children how instruments came into existence, then teaching them about primitive instruments is a great way to start. You can teach children about primitive musical instruments easily by having them create simple primitive instruments out of common household objects, just like ancient peoples did.
Things You'll Need
- Empty oatmeal container Paper plates Dry beans 4 heavy rubber bands Paints Markers Crayons Stapler and staples Cotton cloth Empty shoe box
Instructions
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Create a primitive guitar. Have your child decorate the outside and inside of an empty shoe box with paint, markers, or crayons to make it look colorful. Once the shoe box is dry, attach three rubber bands to the shoe box one at a time. Take a rubber band and stretch it so that one loop can be stapled to the top of the box, and the other loop can be stapled to the other end of the box. Make sure that the rubber band is stretched across the open part of the box. Do the same with the other two rubber bands, spacing them about two inches apart. You now have a primitive shoe box guitar.
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Create a primitive maraca. Have your child color and paint the outside of two paper plates. Once they are finished decorating the plates and the plates are completely dry, fill one plate with about 1/4 cup of dried beans. Place the other paper plate on top of the first plate, and staple all around the edge. Make sure that you staple it thoroughly so that the beans do not leak out. You now have a primitive maraca.
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Create a primitive drum. Have your child paint and color the outside of an empty oatmeal container. Once the paint or markers are dry, place a cotton cloth across the open tip of the oatmeal container and stretch a heavy rubber band around the top to secure it. Pull on the cloth so that it creates a taut surface and so that it can be thumped. you now have a primitive drum.
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Tips & Warnings
Help younger children staple the plates together.
