Friday, March 14, 2014

How to make your own musical instruments

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We made some music with our latest science & art box from affiliate Appleseed Lane! Here are some ideas of how you could do similar projects at home.

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama

By the way, it's Pi Day (3.14), so Appleseed Lane is offering all you science fans 30% off your first box with the code PIDAY — enjoy through March 16! These experiment & craft projects are perfect for natural learning at home.

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
The projects awaiting us!

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
Checking out the supplies. We got the optional sibling add-on with our subscription so both kids can (peaceably) share, but Alrik was taking his nap, so we'll do his later.

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
Straw kazoo — a little tricky to learn, but intriguing, and a possibility for passing the time at a restaurant if you have little scissors around (like on a keychain!). Take a drinking straw and flatten the first inch, then cut into a V. Blow through the top until it vibrates. You can cut off portions of the length to alter the sound.

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
Sam and I were impressed with this craft stick kazoo. I know there are a lot of kazoo variations out there, but this one was really fun, with varying sounds. You need two craft sticks — wrap a thick rubber band around one, and slide a one-inch straw piece underneath one end.

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
Put another straw piece on top of the rubber band on the other end, and then secure a second craft stick on top with rubber bands wrapped around both ends to hold the straws pretty flat. Then just blow!

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
You can push down on the craft sticks to vary the tones, and you can feel the rubber band vibrate away.

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
This is an easy one to pull off at home: Make your own guitar from a box and rubber bands! Small dowels under the rubber bands at the edge help keep the bands off the box.

All the supplies, including the tape for the dowels, was included for us! I should mention that a generous selection of markers was also in this month's box, the better to decorate all the instruments — which Mikko declined. He pretty much always declines all the crafts, making me glad the boxes are always geared more toward the science, with the art optional. Alrik enjoys both, though!

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
Threading an ingenious little tambourine. You'd need a hexagonal box lid of some sort to replicate it precisely (Appleseed Lane is remarkable at sourcing supplies!), but a round one would work as well, or even a rectangle in a pinch.

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
String jingle bells onto a thin lacing cord that's threaded in and out of holes punched around the outside of the hexagon.

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
Good practice for motor coordination! The bells end up on the outside, and the cord is tied together at the end. Once done, you can shake and shimmy!

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
What I was most excited about: string telephone! I'd been meaning to do this childhood favorite with Mikko for quite some time — glad they made it easy for me!

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
I love that the illustrated instructions in Appleseed Lane boxes are easy to follow, with a simple explanation of the science included along with further exploration and discussion ideas.

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
Poke a hole in a cup with a toothpick or fork tine. Thread embroidery floss or other string through, and secure on the inside of the cup, as with a big knot or a paperclip.

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
Stretch tight …

How to make your own musical instruments == Hobo Mama
… and wait for a call!

Remember, enjoy 30% off your first box with the code PIDAY through March 16! These experiment & craft projects are perfect for natural learning at home. My kids look forward to each month's experiments! I love that all the materials are included — makes it so easy to just unpack and get to playing and learning.

To see more examples, you can read my review of the Halloween box here, follow the clues with our Mystery box, and watch our video of Electricity. If you use the coupon and order by March 16, you'll be signed up for April's Earth Day box!

Disclosure: Appleseed Lane & Amazon links are affiliate links
to support the work of my site
at no additional cost to my readers.
I paid for my own subscription after an initial review box.
I try to seek out only products I think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
See my full disclosure policy here.

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