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By
Catherine Pruissen
Making
instruments then playing them is a great experience
for any child. Here are some ideas for craft-time
fun and music time entertainment. Enjoy!
Tambourine
Put macaroni on one paper plate then staple two plates
together. Run a strip of tape around the edge to prevent
the macaroni from falling out. Let the children decorate
their tambourine with markers, glitter, etc.
Shakers
Fill a small plastic pop or juice bottle part way
with popcorn kernels, rice or macaroni. Ensure the
lid is screwed on tightly. You can seal the container
with tape if you like. Old toilet paper tubes can
also be used to make a shaker with colourful paper
tapes onto each end.
Kazoo
Fold a piece of paper over a clean comb, fasten in
place lengthwise and then place in front of your mouth.
Hum a tune and have fun. Bells Fasten a number of
jingle bells to a 12" length of ribbon, leaving enough
room to tie the bells in place and for a little hand
to fit inside to jungle.
Cymbals
Two old saucepan lids with handles make great cymbals.
Guitar
Tape an old shoebox lid closed and cut a large oval
in the lid. Stretch elastics of various sizes around
the box over the hole. Gently strum the elastics to
produce melodic sounds.
Drums
Turn two large coffee cans upside down and use wooden
spoons for drum sticks. The children can decorate
the cans with tissue paper, glitter, etc. You can
also use the plastic lid side of the can for a different
drum sound. Large plastic ice cream buckets work well
for drums too.
Horn
Take a paper towel tube and have the children decorate
it. Fasten a piece of wax paper over one end with
an elastic. Wrap a piece of masking tape around the
opposite end leaving a slit to blow in, and punch
five holes in a straight line along the tube about
2 cm apart. Ask the children to blow into the open
hold on the masking tape end and to place a finger
over one hole at a time to make a different sound.
Clapping
Blocks
Cut pieces of wood scraps into blocks 5 cm x 5 cm
x 10 cm. Glue fine sand paper along two sides to make
a swishing sound when rubbed together. These blocks
can be decorated however you like.
Once
the instruments are made, set up your band. March
around the house or the yard. Play in tune to the
children's favourite music. Play the instruments one
at a time to get an appreciation for each of them
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