Homemade musical instruments are SO MUCH FUN. It combines my love of music and craft! These are some easy instruments you can make at home.

Music is important

For me, and I know I am not the only one who thinks so (think important and well-learned people), music is important for a child’s development. We should be playing music to children from birth and trying to provide opportunities to explore music.

I believe in teaching children to play an instrument. Some are definitely easier than others. I like to teach piano as the first instrument, maybe because I play and it was my first. But piano teaches you to use both hands, is great fro fine motor (as are many instruments) and you are able to start playing “songs” early on. Other easy instruments to learn for children are the ukulele, bongos, and the xylophone (my girls have one they love to play and it has taught some great musical concepts).

HOMEMADE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Here are some other easy instruments to make at home. You can check out my first video here where I made pan flutes, a shaker and a hand drum. I love making instruments with my girls. We had most of the supplies at home, but we also hit up our local dollar store for a few items.

CASTANETS

You will need:

• Heavy cardboard (just use an old cardboard box)
• Bottle caps
• Glue (hot glue gun is best)
• Scissors
• Markers

What to do:

Cut strip of cardboard (about 5 inches by 2 inches).

Round off the edges.

Decorate the strip of card.

Fold in half.

Glue the bottle caps at each end on the inside.

POPSICLE STICK HARMONICAS

You will need:

• Wide pop sticks
• Rubber bands
• Tooth picks
• Paper

What to do:

Cut a strip of paper about the size of the pop sticks.

Sandwich the paper strip in between the 2 pop sticks.

Wrap a rubber band around one end until it is snug.

Slide a toothpick to the inside of the rubber band.

Sandwich the last toothpick at the other end of the pop sticks, and wrap with a rubber band.

Break or cut off the ends of the tooth picks.

PAPER PLATE TAMBOURINE

You will need:

• Paper plates
• Jingle bells
• Rice or dried beans
• String
• Glue (I like hot glue because it is easier)
• Hole punch
• Scissors
• Markers, paint or stickers

What to do:

Decorate the plates as you would like (paint, draw, stickers).

Pour a small amount of rice or beans into the first plate.

Glue around the edges and seal a 2nd plate on top of the first.

Punch 5-7 holes around the outside of the plates.

Cut strips of string.

Tie jingle bells with string at each hole.