Homemade Jam Session Instruments

Here are some simple instruments your child can make. Also encourage him to come up with his own ideas for music makers.

Beat your own drums

Have your child decorate an empty coffee can or round oatmeal carton with a secure lid. Make a drumstick from a strong stick with cotton balls at one end, covered by a piece of fabric secured by a rubber band.

Create your own kazoo!

An empty toilet paper tube with wax paper secured over one end with a rubber band makes a great kazoo. Placing the open end of the tube over their mouth, your child can sing out all kinds of sounds into her kazoo to make it vibrate.

Pipe flutes

Try taping together some straws cut to different lengths, lined up from small to large. Your child can blow across the ends like a pipe flute. Try different kinds and lengths of tubes and straws and let your child experiment making new sounds.

Shake, rattle, and roll!

Almost any empty plastic container can make a great rattle or shaker. Just fill it with a few dried beans, seeds, or popcorn kernels and seal it shut! Or tape together the edges of two sturdy paper plates or aluminum pie plates with some beans or rice sealed inside. Invite your child to shake and bang his tambourine!