How to Make Simple Musical Instruments for Children

Use household items to make musical instruments for kids.

Simple musical instruments for children can be made using common household items. They take little effort, so kids will be jamming in their play bands in no time. Use these musical instrument projects for parties, Sunday-school gatherings or rainy days when children are bored indoors.

Things You'll Need

• Comb
• Wax paper
• Glue
• Scissors
• Shoe box lid
• Bells
• String
• Oatmeal container
• Balloon
• Rubber band
• Soda bottles
• Beads, buttons or popcorn kernels

Instructions

Kazoo

1. Place a comb on wax paper. Cut the wax paper into a rectangle twice the size of the comb.

2. Hold the comb so the teeth point up. Place the center of the wax paper over the teeth of the comb. Wrap the paper over the comb and hold the paper in place at the bottom of the comb, opposite the teeth.

3. Keep the wax paper pulled tight over the comb. Play the makeshift kazoo by humming, with lips pursed, into the side of the comb with teeth.

Tambourine

1. Cut ten small holes in the sides of a shoe-box top using scissors. Cut three holes on each of the longer sides and two holes on the shorter sides. Leave an inch gap between each hole to provide room for the bells.

2. Snip a piece of string two inches in length. Pull the string through the loop at the bottom of a bell. Leave the bell in the middle of the string. Tie a knot with the ends of the strings to hold the bell in place.

3. Pull one end of the string attached to the bell through one of the holes in the shoe-box top. Position the bell on the outside of the box. With both ends of the string, tie a double knot tight against the side of the box. Attach the remaining bells to the holes in the box top in the same fashion.

Drums

1. Cut off the mouthpiece of a balloon, where the balloon starts to widen. Cut too low and there will not be enough balloon to make a drum.

2. Remove the lid from an empty oatmeal container. Stretch the cut balloon and place it over the top of the container. Pull the balloon down over the top, letting the balloon stretch as far down as it will go without tearing the balloon. Slowly let go of the balloon, so it stays on the container and does not snap off. You may need someone to hold the balloon in place.

3. Stretch the rubber band over the container top with the balloon stretched over it. Make sure the rubber band is tight enough to hold the balloon in place. Place several dabs of glue beneath the balloon, if necessary.

Maracas

1. Peel off the labels of empty soda bottles. The bottles can be any size, but 20-oz. bottles work best for children. Anything larger might be too heavy for kids.

2. Remove the lid from the bottles. Pour a cup of beads, buttons or popcorn kernels through the mouth. Any small item can be used, but these make the best sounds.

3. Tighten the lids back on the soda bottles. Let children shake the soda-bottle maracas while holding the necks of the bottles as handles.

Tips & Warnings

• Decorate the simple instruments with construction paper, paint, markers, ribbons or any creative material.

References

• Artists Helping Children: Musical Instrument Crafts For Kids
• Kinder Art; 9 Easy to Make Musical Instruments for Kids; Amanda Formaro
• Martha Stewart: Making Music

Resources

• Children's Music by Nancy Stewart; Homemade Instruments; Nancy Stewart