Homemade "musical instruments"?

[versiculouno]

Does anyone have some ideas? I'd like to make a few for the primary children to use to the beat of a few songs.

Thank you!

[SLarson]

I recently heard of this neat idea. Take a reguar comb, put a tissue over it and hum through it. It becomes a kazoo. You can also use an old toilet paper roll and fill it half way (or so) with beans or rice, seal the ends and you have a maraca of sorts. Don's know if either of those are new or useful but it is the best I have!

[versiculouno]

Thank you! Last Sunday I used plastic Easter eggs and filled them with beans. The kids loved them!

[andreagrover]

We recently used rhythm instruments during our singing time to play along with "My Eternal Family." I used an empty can (from the cannery) and made drumsticks (two wooden skewers with wooden beads on the ends ... I broke off the pointy tips of the skewers and put hot glue on the ends so there would be nothing sharp or dangerous). Even though I had other instruments I bought from a secondhand store, the kids raced to get the homemade drum first!

[versiculouno]

Wow, that is a great idea! I even have some of those cans sitting around collecting dust! I bet our kids will love it. Thank you!

[lconstantine]

Not really a reusable instrument, but I did the "Paper Orchestra" idea from the Yahoo group a couple weeks back and the kids had a blast with it. We have a large Primary (almost 70 kids in Jr. and close to 50 in Sr.) so it did get a bit loud. I definitely had to lay down the law, especially w/ Sr., so it doesn't get out of control. But it went over really well. I just used the ideas here to introduce the song for the month, so they could learn the tune, and then did some fun songs at the end. Laura

Here is the post I found:

Paper Orchestra

Before I handed out the paper, I set my expectations. I told them we could only do it if we were reverent and that they had to follow me and do only what I do with the paper. Hand out 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper to every child.

1. Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam p. 60
Have the kids roll their paper into a tube. Alternate singing the words and "doot-doot-ing" in the paper tube.

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.
"doot-doot doot-doot doot-doot"
In every way try to please him
"doot-doot doot-doot doot-doot"

2. Popcorn Popping p. 242
Hold the sheet of paper loosely between two hands and then pull hard, but not too hard to tear it. and a very snappy "pop" can be heard. Snap the paper through each of the "popcorn popping" phrases.

3. The Wise man and the Fooslish man p. 281
Lay the paper across your lap with both feet on the floor and knees together.

slap (slap hands on knees to the beat of the song)
tickle (wiggling all fingers on paper)
rub circle (slide flat hand in a circle on paper)
rub across (slide flat hand across the paper from one end to another)

(slap) The wise mean built his house upon the rock (repeat 3 times)
(tickle) and the rains came tumbling down
(tickle) the rains came down and the
(rub circle) floods came up (repeat 3 times)
(slap) and the house on the rock stood still.
(rub across) The follish man built his house upon the sand (repeat 3
times)
(tickle) and the rains came tumbling down
(tickle) the rains came down and the
(rub circle) floods came up (repeat 3 times)
(wave paper through air) and the house on the sand washed away.

4. It's Autumn Time p. 246

Shake or fly the paper like a falling leaf in a figure 8 motion in the air to the beat.

5. Fun to Do p. 253

Hold the paper in between hands with palms together to start. Clap to the beat of the song. Try to keep the paper airborne and catch it in between palms on the clap.

6. Do as I'm Doing p. 276

On the first couple of verses ask the kids what other things we could do. The last time through start at an edge and tear strips off. until paper is all torn up. About the time you get to "if I do it fast" you can really rip into it. Then wad the paper into a ball and pass around a garbage can and clean up the papers.

I hope this helps. I used it on the day we did the Primary Program during singing time in the Fall. The kids loved it. I'm sure you could think of other songs that might be more timely with the winter season as well.

Linda in Louisville

[tatey02]

Mar 20, 2009 10:20:10 GMT -5 lconstantine said:

Not really a reusable instrument, but I did the "Paper Orchestra" idea from the Yahoo group a couple weeks back and the kids had a blast with it. We have a large Primary (almost 70 kids in Jr. and close to 50 in Sr.) so it did get a bit loud. I definitely had to lay down the law, especially w/ Sr., so it doesn't get out of control. But it went over really well. I just used the ideas here to introduce the song for the month, so they could learn the tune, and then did some fun songs at the end. Laura

Here is the post I found:

Paper Orchestra

Before I handed out the paper, I set my expectations. I told them we could only do it if we were reverent and that they had to follow me and do only what I do with the paper. Hand out 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper to every child.

1. Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam p. 60
Have the kids roll their paper into a tube. Alternate singing the words and "doot-doot-ing" in the paper tube.

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.
"doot-doot doot-doot doot-doot"
In every way try to please him
"doot-doot doot-doot doot-doot"

2. Popcorn Popping p. 242
Hold the sheet of paper loosely between two hands and then pull hard, but not too hard to tear it. and a very snappy "pop" can be heard. Snap the paper through each of the "popcorn popping" phrases.

3. The Wise man and the Fooslish man p. 281
Lay the paper across your lap with both feet on the floor and knees together.

slap (slap hands on knees to the beat of the song)
tickle (wiggling all fingers on paper)
rub circle (slide flat hand in a circle on paper)
rub across (slide flat hand across the paper from one end to another)

(slap) The wise mean built his house upon the rock (repeat 3 times)
(tickle) and the rains came tumbling down
(tickle) the rains came down and the
(rub circle) floods came up (repeat 3 times)
(slap) and the house on the rock stood still.
(rub across) The follish man built his house upon the sand (repeat 3
times)
(tickle) and the rains came tumbling down
(tickle) the rains came down and the
(rub circle) floods came up (repeat 3 times)
(wave paper through air) and the house on the sand washed away.

4. It's Autumn Time p. 246

Shake or fly the paper like a falling leaf in a figure 8 motion in the air to the beat.

5. Fun to Do p. 253

Hold the paper in between hands with palms together to start. Clap to the beat of the song. Try to keep the paper airborne and catch it in between palms on the clap.

6. Do as I'm Doing p. 276

On the first couple of verses ask the kids what other things we could do. The last time through start at an edge and tear strips off. until paper is all torn up. About the time you get to "if I do it fast" you can really rip into it. Then wad the paper into a ball and pass around a garbage can and clean up the papers.

I hope this helps. I used it on the day we did the Primary Program during singing time in the Fall. The kids loved it. I'm sure you could think of other songs that might be more timely with the winter season as well.

Linda in Louisville

[tatey02]

I have to tell you -I think our primary has enjoyed the "paper orchestra" game more than anything else!