Make Your Own Instrument Day
My name is Rachel and I have my own musical company called Music Minors. Today we are joined by my daughter Matilda. We are going to be learning all about making your own instrument. Everything you will need to make the instruments are things that you can find at home. Have fun joining in with the music and playing along to the beat once you’ve made your instruments.
9.30am Activity:
Making a Drum
What you need:
Yoghurt pot
Balloon
Scissors
Straws or sticks for beaters
This activity allows your child to be creative and independent.
Grown Ups:
Use the video to guide your child to make their own drum. You will need to help your child stretch the balloon over the pot. This activity supports children’s creative development and understanding of musical instruments.
10.30am Activity:
Making a Rainmaker
What you need:
Toilet roll holder or kitchen roll cardboard
Rice, plastic beads or uncooked pasta
Kitchen foil
Scissors
Sellotape
Plain paper to decorate
Coloured pens/pencils
This is a lovely sensory instrument which makes such a gentle sound.
Grown Ups:
Whilst watching Rachel and Matilda make this rainmaker, try and let your child have a go with your support. Decorating the outside of the rainmaker and personalising it allows your child to showcase their creativity.
1:30pm Activity:
Making Panpipes
What you need:
6 x straws
Paper
Sellotape
Scissors
This is a lovely and unusual instrument. You need to blow into the straws to make the sound.
Grown Ups:
This is more difficult to play but once you practise it can sound brilliant. Matilda enjoys showing you how to make this instrument using just some simple home equipment. Listen to the different pitches the straws make, high to low. Does the bigger straw make a high sound? Does the smallest straw make a low sound? Listen and see what happens.
This activity supports children’s creativity and understanding of pitch and sounds.
2:30pm Activity:
Tap to the Beat
Using one, two or three of the instruments you have made from today, enjoy tapping to the beat to this familiar song from the film Trolls.
Grown Ups:
Listen to Rachel and count together with your child as you tap fast, slow and stop/start. This activity develops your children’s musical skills and counting in fours whilst playing to the beat.
