Make an instrument from tin cans

Simple homemade musical instruments you can make from materials found around the home. Get the instructions here from Janice at Learning 4 Kids.

Make a simple reed instrument

Alec from Child's Play Music making an instrument

"Children from about 4 and up can make it themselves with some adult assistance – you will have to cut the hose for them, and they will need assistance and close supervision if they are going to saw the PVC pipe. " Alec's full instructions for making this reed instrument can be found at his blog.

Making a shekere

The shekere is an instrument from West Africa made from a dried gourd.  It has a net covering the gourd which is woven with beads.
It is used for folk songs and also in popular music. It is shaken and tapped against the hands.
If you do not have a dried gourd you can make a shekere using a plastic bottle.
We made ours with large plastic milk bottles which we painted in week 1 and left to dry.

Making instruments

The wonderful thing about creating instruments is that you can use them to make sounds and sing and dance along.

Making a HORN is quick and simple.

Use a cardboard cylinder of any length.
It can be painted before hand, decorated with markers, stickers and streamers or wrapped in colourful paper glued on or left plain.

Put a small piece of wax paper over one end.

Secure the wax paper with tape.

Make three holes down the cylinder with a pen.

Blow into the uncovered end of the cylinder to create a sound.

Other instruments you may like to make:
Musical bottle shakers

shekere