Handmade Musical Instruments

Handmade Musical Instruments

Handmade Musical Instruments

Suitable for Kindergarten to Third Grade

- almost anything that makes some sort of noise can be used 
  as a musical instrument

- one specific instrument can be made at a time or supplies 
  can be made available allowing the children to be more 
  creative
- use the instruments for performances 

Materials

- elastics

- sticks

- plastic tubs with lids

- shaker materials (paper towel rolls, things that will make a 

  noise such as rice, beans or  beads)

- shakers or maracas can also be made using paper-mache

- have a variety of recyclable materials available (boxes, 

  paper towel rolls, bottles)

- instructions for specific instruments can be found under 

  Drums, Stringed Instruments, Maracas

Follow-Up

- provide opportunities for the children to play their instruments in the classroom setting or 

  at an assembly

- they could also be used at an assembly

- use technology to let them perform (older children can produce and star in a musical 

  video)

- younger children can record each other 

- branch out and have them compose their own songs, perform, create a band with 

  a name etc.
How do the instruments sound? Do some comparing with help at Comparing Musical Instruments