Making Homemade Instruments

Making a musical instrument is extremely easy. With just a few small steps, you can have your own backyard band! Here are a few options:

Egg Shaker/Maraca

For a shaker/maraca, just throw some uncooked rice or beans (depending on the sound you want) into an Easter egg. Secure it using super glue or something simple as tape if you want to later empty the egg for another use. Once it's secure, shake away!

Sensory Bottle: Rain Stick

A sensory bottle rain stick is easy to make as well. You just need a plastic bottle, plenty of toothpicks, and (optional) wooden skewers. You'll also need an uncooked small grain, such as quinoa or amaranth (these can be found in "bulk bins" at Super Saver and health food stores, so you can just buy the amount you need!) **NOTE** Rice is too big and will not flow freely between the toothpicks to create the sound of rain!

The recommended type of plastic bottle is the tall Glaceau Smart Water bottles -- this gives more time for the grains to fall through and actually sound like a rain stick. Basically, the taller the plastic container/bottle, the better the sound!

Instructions for sensory bottle rain stick:

1. Make sure the bottle is clean, and remove the label if desired.

2. Start filling the bottle with toothpicks. It is optional to place longer wooden skewers diagonally within the bottle to keep the toothpicks from ending up too vertical, however, not a necessary step.

3. Use a funnel to insert the grains into the bottle. 

4. Tighten the lid securely, and enjoy your rain stick!

Optional Step: Once you're sure you have the desired sounds and proportions of "ingredients," you can glue the lid to completely seal the instrument. :)

Popsicle Stick Harmonica

Here's what you'll need:

- 2 popsicle sticks (wide ones will work best!)

- 2 rubber bands, or string

- A strip of paper the same size as the popsicle sticks

- 2 toothpicks cut the width (or just above the width) of the popsicle sticks

How to assemble your popsicle stick harmonica:

1. Place the paper strip in between the two popsicle sticks.

2. Wrap one rubber band (or tie string) around one end until it is snug.

3. Slide one toothpick wedge to the inside of the rubber band (or string).

4. Sandwich the last toothpick to the other end of the popsicle sticks.

5. Wrap that end with the rubber band (or string), again making sure it's tight.

**NOTE** Experienced players of the pospicle stick harmonica have found it works best to place one toothpick on top of the paper and one on the bottom, while remaining between the popsicle sticks of course. Fiddle around with a few options to see what works best for you!

And just how do you use this instrument? It's all about air! Simply suck or blow air into it to see what different sounds can be made. You can also squeeze parts of the popsicle sticks together to project different unique sounds.

Be sure to keep checking back for more homemade instrument options! :)