Kids musical activities
Music is so good for children, it helps promote language development, listening skills, rhythm and coordination. I have always played music since I was little, so my children have been exposed to music ever since they were born (& whilst in my tummy). They love it. Any chance they get to play music, they grab it. Hence, when I suggested we have a music themed week, they got very excited!
To make it different from the usual musical play they always do, I suggested we make some instruments ourselves, so we made a shaker and straw panpipes.
Here’s how to make them:
To make straw panpipes
You need:
- Lollipop stick
- Straws
- Tape (masking tape or washi tape)
- Scissors
- Pens to decorate
Making straw panpipes:
- Place the lollipop stick on the table, put the straws together, lined up on top of the stick and tape them down.
- Cut the bottom of the straws in a diagonal line, so every straw is a different length.
- There you have your straw panpipes, but if you would like, you can decorate them too. The start playing….
You need to blow across the top of the straws, rather than into them, so children may need a little help at first, but they soon get the hang of it.
The children loved making this and very much enjoyed playing with it afterwards. It was also a great teaching tool, getting them to listen to the pitch of the sound they made. The short straws made a high sound and the longer straws made a low sound. As the sound it makes is actually very quiet, it also helps them learn to listen.
How to make easy shakers
You need:
- 2 Yoghurt pots (the same sort)
- Making tape
- Rice or lentils or dried beans
- Stickers to decorate (optional)
- Pens to decorate (optional)
Easy shakers
- Put some dry rice or lentils etc into one yoghurt pot.
- Place the second pot on top and tape round the middle. You may need to put a few rounds of tape to ensure it doesn’t come apart.
- Decorate with pens and/or stickers.
These shakers are so easy to make, children enjoy it and they can get creative at the same time.
There are lots of ways to make shakers. An even simpler way, would be to put rice in a small pot with a lid on and there you have a noisy shaker!
Next, get dancing to music and shaking. You can read all about how we played with them here, we had so much fun!
aaa we’ve made plenty of shakers in this house but never thought of the straw panpipes, will definitely be making those, thanks for shring #minicreations
Great, I hope you enjoy the straw pipes
We’ve also had a bazillion shakers in the past, but the panpipes are definitely a new and exciting thing we’ve not tried before!
Son is really fascinated with musical instruments after seeing someone played at a food festival in Bristol. He wont stop playing things. We will do the shakers for now =) #minicreations
Great, I hope you have fun
Love this – will have to try making these with my little one
Great, I hope you have fun
I love the starw pan pipes. So simple but a great idea, always looking for easy art and craft ideas for work and home.
Thanks, they were a bit different to most instruments we make
Truly wonderful ideas, these are exactly the type of activities my 4yo son is doing at his music class -really fab! I’m sure you have been nominated already and I hope you don’t mind but I have nominated you for the Liebster Award, find out more here http://ourlittlehouseinthecountry.com/2014/05/07/liebster-award/
Aw, thank you very much x
Great idea for panpipes! We’ve made various instruments like shakers and guitars before but not panpipes. we’ll have to give this one a go! #minicreations
Great, I hope you have fun x
Great simple ideas that all kids will love #minicreations
Thanks
Lucas says – It makes noise. The Mother thinks they’re educational. We can use scissors although the Mother still hasn’t recovered from ‘HairGate’ circa 2011!!! LOVE it…………….
Thanks for linking to #minicreations
Thank you, the straw panpipes are a very quiet noise, definitely manageable for your mother
Great idea! We’ve made shakers before but I hadn’t thought of the pipes
Thanks for linking with Tuesday Tutorials #pintorials
Thank you
Great ideas, I love the shakers and panpipes x
Thank you x
Love the idea of the panpipes. We did spice jar shakers by accident but they didn’t last. The panpipes help children learn a different way of blowing, and obviously the discipline as you said. Have shared on G+ and pinned. Thanks for linking up to #Musicalexploration
Thank you, it was a different way of exploring music
What great ideas. We have a home made guitar from recycled materials. Thank you for sharing with the Kids Co-op
Thank you
What a great idea those simple panpipes are! I’ll add this to my pinterest board
x
Thank you
Love this! Just got a tambaring, but would love to make instruments too
Fab, instruments and music is so good for children