How to Make Your Own Rhythm Band Instruments

Simple hand-percussion can creaete a very expressive sound.

The range of instruments used in rhythm bands is wide and diverse. It includes snare drums, timpani, steel drums and various smaller percussion instruments such as shakers, tambourines and percussive scrapers. The larger rhythm band instruments can be expensive and difficult to build, as they are traditionally constructed from sturdy material such as precious woods and steel. Hand-percussion instruments such as shakers, tambourines and scrapers are constructed more simply. You can build your own from items that you have in the house.

Things You'll Need

• Circular plasticware lids
• Utility knife
• Hole punch
• Glue
• String
• Finger cymbals
• Coconut shells
• Salt and pepper shakers
• Confetti rice
• Sand
• Jingle bells
• 80-grit sand paper

Instructions

1. Tie finger cymbals together in pairs. Finger cymbals typically come with a small loop on the top; tie the string through this loop. Fashion two plastic rings. Cut out the center of two plasticware lids with a utility knife so that the circumference is an inch thick. Score a cross-hatch pattern around the edge of one ring with the utility knife and apply a thin layer of glue to the scored side. Fit the other ring on top and place a heavy book on the two rings so that the glue sets. Use a hole punch to make a series of holes around the edge, evenly spaced apart. Make one hole for each pair of finger cymbals. Slide a plastic cable tie through the string loop, through the hole in the plastic ring and then fasten it. This fixes the cymbals loosely to the rings and creates a tambourine style instrument.

2. 

   Hollow coconut shells are a cheap alternative to wooden scrapers.

   Hollow out a coconut shell and clean the inside so that there is no pulp. Gently buff the outside with sandpaper to smooth the edges. Put the two shell halves outside to dry over night. Score five, 60-mm long, 1-mm deep grooves along the back of each shell half. Glue the shells together. Use a wooden stick to scrape along the grooves. The sound of the scraper will resonate inside the hollow shell.

3. 

   Salt pots are idea for making rice-shakers.

   Clean out some old salt and pepper shakers. It's good to have a range of different sized shakers. Fill each one with confetti rice. To create a range of sounds, fill some half way and some almost to the top. The almost full ones will create a tighter rattling sound, the rice in the less full shakers will have more room to move about and will create a looser rattling sound. For a quieter shaker sound, use sand.

4. 

   Fallen twigs can be used as a frame for a bell or cymbal shaker.

   Source some thick twigs from the garden or local park. Look for twigs that are around 30-mm thick and "Y" shaped. The "Y" shape is necessary because you need to run a piece of string around the top. Use an 80-grit sand paper to get rid of the bark. Cut a piece of string so that it is twice the length of the distance between the between the points of the "Y" shape. Tie a knot in the middle of the string. Thread five finger cymbals or jingle bells onto the string. Tie a second knot in the string so that the finger cymbals don't slide around. Loop the string around the top of the "Y" and fasten it in a tight knot.

Tips & Warnings

• Use glitter, crepe paper and paint to decorate the instruments once constructed.

• If you are making the instruments with kids, supervise them at all times since there will be glue and knives present.

References

• Nancy Music: Homemade
• The Silver Penny: Rhythm Instruments