How to Make Clay Instruments for Kids
According to a study published in the journal Psychology of Music, children exposed to a multiyear program of music display superior cognitive performance in reading skills compared with their non-musically trained peers. Children love to make music. Music allows a child to express feelings and be creative. Music can inspire imagination and stimulate the mind. You can make your own cheap music instruments by using clay.
Instructions
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Decide which type of instrument you wish to make. The simplest one to construct is the wind chime. Roll out a long length of clay in the shape of a tube and extrude the inside of the pipe in order to make a flute or whistle. You can use an object such as a drill bit to hollow out the tube. Think about the type of music you want to make. Have an idea of what you want to do before you get started.
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Make a drawing of the instrument you plan on constructing. Know what measurements you will make. If you are making a wind chime, plan out the sizes of each chime. For a whistle, decide how many holes you will make on the top. Your drawing will keep you from guessing when you begin to mold your clay.
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Warm the clay with your hands by kneading it to make it pliable. Mold your clay and cut the lengths of clay that you need for your instrument. Follow the plan that you drew. If you are making a wind chime, cut the lengths and the number of chimes that you need. Make the holes in the top of each chime so you will be able to hang them together. For best results, roll out the clay on glass. This will give you a smooth surface to work with.
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Bake your instrument in your oven if it is a firing clay. Each clay will require different temperatures and different baking times, so follow the directions on the clay package. Typically you will bake your clay at 350 degrees for about five minutes. Bake your clay on a glass surface so it will loosen off of the surface easier after it has baked. Some clays will air dry. If your clay is air dry, allow at least three days for your instrument to dry completely before moving it.
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