Creative crafts for children

How To Make Musical Instruments At Home

Mary Smith
By Mary Smith. Updated: April 25, 2023
How To Make Musical Instruments At Home

Are you looking for a fun and creative way to explore music with your children? Making your own musical instruments at home is an exciting and engaging activity that can provide hours of entertainment while also teaching valuable skills. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a beginner, crafting homemade instruments is a fantastic way to spark a love for music in your children and foster their creativity.

By following our oneHOWTO guide on how to make musical instruments at home, you and your children can have a blast both creating and playing with them.

You may also be interested in: How to make glue paste at home
Steps to follow:
1

Among children, the guitar is perhaps the most beloved musical instrument. Luckily, it's also one of the easiest to make at home using a simple cardboard box and elastic bands. With just a few steps, you can transform a plain box into a functional guitar.

First, make small holes on two sides of the cardboard box and insert the elastic bands into them. This will create the hollow body of the guitar.

For added realism, you can attach a long object to serve as the guitar bridge. This allows your child to experiment with different pitches and create a more authentic guitar-playing experience.

In no time at all, your child can have a fun and functional instrument that will inspire hours of creativity and musical exploration. So, grab some cardboard and elastic bands and get ready to make a guitar that your child will treasure!

How To Make Musical Instruments At Home - Step 1
Image: paperblog.com
2

Maracas are a simple and fun musical instrument that can be crafted at home with ease. All you need is a small plastic bottle and a selection of legumes, ideally with a variety of sizes and shapes.

Once you have placed the legumes inside the bottle, simply shake it to produce a delightful musical effect. This activity is particularly great for children, as it encourages them to discover and develop their sense of rhythm.

For added visual appeal, consider painting the bottle with bright and vibrant colors that will capture a child's attention. You could even enhance the maracas further by including colored pebbles, similar to those found in fish tanks. This will not only add a decorative element, but also provide a visual and sensory experience for the child.

How To Make Musical Instruments At Home - Step 2
Image: materiales-infantil.blogspot.com
3

Crafting a homemade xylophone is easier than you might expect and provides endless fun for all ages. To begin, gather several glass bottles and fill them with water, each with varying quantities to produce different tones. For added visual appeal and vibrancy, consider adding a splash of paint to each bottle.

Once the bottles are ready, arrange them in a line and use metal and wooden spoons to play them. Each bottle will produce a distinct musical note, allowing you to experiment with creating simple melodies. However, it is important to supervise children while playing this instrument, as there is a slight risk of the glass bottles being knocked over.

How To Make Musical Instruments At Home - Step 3
Image: 3macarrons.com
4

Creating your own homemade drums is a fun and easy way to encourage your child's musical creativity. You can use various materials such as wood, cardboard, tin, and plastic boxes to make different types of drums.

Simply stick the boxes together using tape or glue, depending on the material used, and let your child experiment with different utensils like metal or wooden cutlery to create unique sounds. However, if you are using glue or super-glue, it's best to handle the process yourself to avoid any accidents.

How To Make Musical Instruments At Home - Step 4
Image: tallerpasoapasoclick.blogspot.com
5

The tambourine is a wonderful musical instrument that can be easily made at home with a little adult supervision. To create this delightful percussion instrument, you will need some bottle tops, wire, and a round object, such as a cardboard tube or plastic bottle.

To begin, cut out two circles from the bottle or tube. Next, create two holes in the center of each bottle cap, ensuring that you have an even number of caps. Match the caps in pairs and thread the wire through the holes to fasten them to the circular shape. Once the caps are in place, wrap the wire and caps in vinyl tape to secure them firmly.

Ensure that there is a gap of a few inches between each circle to allow for the free movement of the tambourine.

Children will love shaking and rattling their new tambourine while exploring different rhythms and sounds. With a little adult assistance, creating this simple, yet fun musical instrument will be a great bonding experience for both child and parent.

How To Make Musical Instruments At Home - Step 5
6

While playing a traditional didgeridoo can be challenging, making a kid-friendly version of this unique musical instrument is a breeze. All you need is a large poster tube and some basic materials.

Start by removing the plastic lids from each end of the tube. To protect your lips, wrap a layer of vinyl tape around the end of the tube. If you prefer, you can create a smaller hole to achieve a better sound.

It's important to note that the didgeridoo holds significant cultural importance for Aboriginal communities in Australia. This makes it an excellent opportunity to engage in a cultural learning experience with your child, depending on their age.

How To Make Musical Instruments At Home - Step 6
Image: pinterest.com
7

Although these pan pipes may not produce a very loud sound, they are still a fun and simple way to create some music. To make them, all you need is a pack of straws (wider ones work best), and you can often find them at fast food restaurants.

Start by lining up around 10 straws, with one straw being full size and each subsequent straw being cut about half an inch shorter than the last.

Once you have your straws lined up in this manner, place them on top of some sticky tape and wrap the tape around them to hold them in place.

While playing these pan pipes, it's important to remember that they may not produce a very loud sound, so they are best suited for quiet play or for small gatherings. However, they are a great way to experiment with music and to introduce children to the idea of creating their own instruments.

How To Make Musical Instruments At Home - Step 7
Image: kidspot.com.au
8

Vuvuzelas are a fun and easy-to-make musical instrument that don't require much skill or effort to use. You can make your own at home using a kitchen roll cardboard tube.

To make your vuvuzela, start by cutting down one side of the tube lengthwise. Fold one end of the tube smaller than the other end to create a cone shape. Wrap vinyl tape around the smaller end of the tube to create a mouthpiece.

On the other end of the tube, attach a plastic cup with the bottom cut off to create a trumpet bell sound and increase the volume of the instrument.

While these homemade vuvuzelas can be a lot of fun to play with, keep in mind that they can become quite loud and may become annoying if used excessively. Nevertheless, they are a great way to introduce children to the world of music and inspire creativity.

How To Make Musical Instruments At Home - Step 8
Image: makingmulticulturalmusic.wordpress.com
9

There are many creative ways to customize the homemade musical instruments to make them more unique and personalized. Painting them with bright colors or designs can make them more visually appealing and fun for kids to play with. You can also use stickers, glitter, and other craft materials to decorate them.

In addition to making the instruments look more attractive, customizing them can also provide a great opportunity for children to express themselves creatively and learn about different artistic techniques. They can experiment with color combinations and different painting styles to create a one-of-a-kind look for their instrument.

Furthermore, by allowing each child to put their own personal stamp on their instrument, you are giving them a sense of ownership and pride in their creation. They will feel a deeper connection to their instrument and be more likely to use it regularly and continue exploring music.

Don't miss out on these other articles if you enjoy creating unique crafts with your children:

If you want to read similar articles to How To Make Musical Instruments At Home, we recommend you visit our Art & handicraft category.

Tips
  • Constant adult supervision is recommendable.

Write a comment

What did you think of this article?
3 comments
Rating:
Gracie Foster
i think its very simple me and my kids loved it
Rating:
Joshim Ahmed
is it easy to make a flute.
Sanaa Richardson 11/2/2020
and why is that
Rating:
Sabirina
This is fun
Gracie Foster
your very right
Image: paperblog.com
Image: materiales-infantil.blogspot.com
Image: 3macarrons.com
Image: tallerpasoapasoclick.blogspot.com
Image: pinterest.com
Image: kidspot.com.au
Image: makingmulticulturalmusic.wordpress.com
1 of 9
How To Make Musical Instruments At Home