How to Make Folk Instruments

Making Folk Instruments

Folk instruments are fun for children to make and play. You can create them from materials that are typically found around your home and can be purchased at any arts or crafts supply store. Small children will need help with using scissors or the stapler, but older children can make their folk instruments independently. Here are instructions for how to create a few fun and musical folk instruments. The instructions for each instrument are for one child.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Empty paper towel roll
• Craft paint
• Paintbrushes
• Scissors
• Wax paper
• Medium-gauge yarn
• 1/4 cup dried beans
• Empty shoe box
• 12 brass fasteners
• 6 heavy rubber bands
• Empty toilet paper roll
• Empty oatmeal container

1. Folk Paper Towel Rainstick

   Make a folk rainstick. Paint the outside of an empty paper towel roll using bright and lively craft paint. Let the paint dry completely. Using scissors, cut 2 squares of wax paper, 3 inches long on each side. Place one of the wax paper squares over one end of the roll, and tightly wrap yarn around the end. Tie the end of the yarn tightly to another part of the yarn already wrapped around the paper towel roll. Pour 1/4 cup of dried beans into the open end of the paper towel roll. Cover and wrap the open end with the other wax paper square and yarn in the same manner as before.

2. Shoe Box Folk Guitar

   Make a folk guitar. Paint the outside of an empty shoe box, and let the paint dry completely. Using scissors, cut a 3-inch hole in the center of the box. Press 12 brass fasteners into the ends of the box, six on one end and six on the other end. Flatten out the ends underneath. Cut open six heavy rubber bands, creating six long rubber band strips. For each rubber band, tie one end to a brass fastener on one side of the box, and the other end of the rubber band to a fastener on the opposite end. Repeat this process for each rubber band. Cut open an empty toilet paper roll and flatten it. Slip the flattened under the rubber bands, sliding it down to one end. This will lift the rubber band strings up and will allow the vibrations of the strings to enter into the hole, amplifying the sound.

3. Folk Drum

   Make a folk drum. Paint the outside of an empty oatmeal container. Let the paint dry completely. Using scissors, cut out an 8-inch circle from wax paper. Place the wax paper circle over the open end of the oatmeal container. Wrap yarn around the end of the container, securing the wax paper. Carefully pull around the ends of the wax paper, making it taut.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Paper Towel Roll Rainstick
• Shoe Box Guitar
• Oatmeal Container Drum