Some Simple Instruments....

- homemade instruments -

As a break from the math and precision, let's today make some musical toys for children.

Here are some ideas for simple accompanying instruments, that you can make with/for your children, that will provide them with many hours of enjoyment....

Hand-held maracas - take film cases and fill them 1/4 of the way with glass beads.

Shoe box zither - take a shoe box, or an empty tissue box, and stretch rubber bands around the length of said box. Strum the bands for sound.

Coke bottle xylophone - arrange a number of bottles with varying amounts of water in them. Take a small stick, and wrap a number of rubber bands around one end, making a striker head to play the bottles with. Striking the bottles of varying water volume will make many notes sound from them.

Tom-toms - empty plastic butter or margarine bowls of different sizes with the plastic covers on them are excellent for striking beats.

Bell chimes - varying sizes of stainless steel bowls, suspended by strings, make wonderful chimes.

Rattles - bottle caps, whether metal or plastic (make two of these, trying each variety), with holes made into their centers, then strung up, tying each end of the string to the ends of a stick, make great rattles.

Kazoo - wrapping wax paper over a comb, and lightly pressing to your lips, making an 'ooooooo' zound with your voice, produces a kazoo-like sound. This can tickle a lot, however, making children laugh.

That's all for today's post - see you all tomorrow! ^_^

- homemade instruments -