Did you know that singing in schools helps children feel better about themselves and improves their community spirit? And that mastering a musical instrument improves the way the human brain processes parts of spoken language? For these reasons and more, it’s important to make music a part of your student’s educational journey. So why not make music fun and inventive with some homemade instruments? Here are six DIY instruments that you can make at home with your kids that will help you teach them musical concepts.
via Krokotak
Harmonicas are a fascinating instrument with their petite size and distinct sound, but how do they work? If you take a look at the inside of a harmonica, you will see that thin strips of brass—all different lengths—vibrate when you breathe into the harp. You can mimic this setup by taping different sized straws together, and blowing into the airways. Or, filling glasses with different amounts of water and lightly dinging the rim of the glass with a spoon.
via The Taylor House
Drums create the rhythm to almost every tune making this instrument a key element in a tempo lesson. Whether you dance to the beat or sing along with the percussion, drums are a great guide. You can create drums at home by using everyday items like soup cans, Pringles containers, or even a tabletop! All you need is some kind of a drum stick to tap along with.
via Family Fun
Another form of percussion is the tambourine. You’ll often see singers with a tambourine because they’re able to multi-task with one free hand to hold the mic. If you’re looking for a fun musical addition for your kids’ acoustic act, then the tambourine may be just what you need. And this DIY version is quieter than the traditional kind!
via PreK +K Sharing
If your children are already expert drummers, you may want to offer them something more challenging like this percussion wall. By hanging up different objects from around the house or out in the shed, your kids can hear all the different tones that are produced. This is a great activity to complete with a friend (or little brother or sister), too. Get them started on a beat to a certain tempo, and you can join in with another sound. Soon you’ll be on your way to making your very own homemade musical masterpiece!
via Sax on the Web
The saxophone is another distinct noise often heard in jazz music. Bring that soulful sound to your DIY band with a homemade sax, and soon you’ll teaching the kids all about the blues!
via Savvy Homemade
And no need to leave out classical music as you make these DIY instruments. SavvyHomemade offers instructions for making your own french horn. Bring the bass and soon you’ll have a whole orchestra in your home.
Share your DIY musical instrument creations in the comments below or on social media by visiting Learning Liftoff on Facebook or tag @K12Learn on Twitter and Instagram.
And make sure to enter your musical performance in K12’s 2016 Music Showcase for your chance to be a grade-level winner or the National Best in Show. Contest ends July 29, 2016.
Related Content
- 10 Benefits of Music Education for Students
- 5 More Reasons Your Child Should be Learning a Musical Instrument
- How to Give Your Child a Top-Notch Music Education
- How to Keep Aspiring Musicians in Tune with Practice
- 12 Educational Music Games and Apps for Kids
- Versatility, Video Experience Pay Off for K12 Music Showcase Winner
- Fun Music Video Offers Lesson in Persistence
The post Make Homemade Music with These 6 DIY Instruments appeared first on Learning Liftoff.