Make Musical Instruments from Recycled Materials
Noisemakers to Create for a Party or as a Rainy Day Activity
Aug 18, 2009
These fun and simple-to-make musical instruments can entertain kids during a rainy day. If the weather is sunny, send them outdoors to serenade the birds and insects after they construct their instruments. Kindergarten or primary students can try to work together to create a musical presentation. Create and play these noisemakers at an Independence Day or New Year’s Eve party for children.
Comb Harmonica
Wrap a piece of tissue paper around the teeth of a comb. Select a comb with short teeth. The child holds the tissue-wrapped comb against his lips and hums. The paper will tickle the lips. This simple instrument creates a funny buzzing sound. The child can change the sound by holding against his lips either the end with the wide-spaced comb teeth or the end with the closely-spaced comb teeth.
Cardboard Tube Kazoo
Children will need an empty paper towel tube, some waxed paper, and an elastic band. If desired, decorate the tube with markers. Cut a round piece of waxed paper that is much larger than the open end of the cylinder. Set the waxed paper circle over one end of the tube and secure it in place with a rubber band.
To play the cardboard tube trumpet, the child holds the open end of the cylinder over her mouth and hums a song into the tube. The waxed paper will vibrate and the tube will echo the humming sound.
Bottle Rattle
Children will need an empty water bottle or any other type of plastic bottle to make a rattle. Depending on the size container, children will need five to twenty rocks or a half a cup to a full cup of dried beans. Add the pebbles or beans, give a shake, and then add or remove a few of the beans and test this different sound. Experiment.
Be creative when making this rattle as different containers will create different sounds. Two plastic fruit cups can be filled with a few pebbles or beans and then taped together. A single yogurt cup with a cover can be used as can two yogurt cups taped with the open ends together. Empty laundry detergent bottles will create yet an entirely different sound.
Decorate a piece of white paper and then wrap around the bottle. Adhere with packaging tape. Decorate smaller items with white address labels that can be colored and then stuck into place.
Box Drum
Test the sound of a hand thumping against an empty oatmeal container, coffee can, or box. The larger the item, the deeper the sound it will make. Decorate pieces of white paper and wrap around the item, holding it in place with packaging tape. Cover the drum with gift wrap paper or collage with images from magazines to create a personalized item.
Children can have fun creating a drum, kazoo, harmonica, or rattle from items they can recycle from around the house. The creation and playing of the instruments can fill a rainy afternoon or the children can go outside and make music to complement the nature surrounding them.
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