Making musical instruments can be a fun activity. What's more, you can make musical instruments using recycled items you have in your home. Besides being fun and doesn't cost a lot, this activity is also quite easy to do.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Chinese Gong
Step 1. Make two holes in the unused roasting pan
You can use a penknife to make two holes in the lip of the pan.
- Ask an adult to help drill two holes in the roasting pan.
- Decide which side to punch the hole on because that side will be the top of your gong.
- The distance between the two holes is about 5 to 7.6 centimeters.
- You can also use the tip of the scissors to make holes in the roasting pan.
Step 2. Insert a pipe cleaner (a kind of small elastic brush that can be used to clean sink holes) into the hole
Use one pipe cleaner for one hole. Make a knot at the end of the pipe cleaner so that the roasting pan doesn't come off the pipe cleaner.
- You must make a loop on each end of the pipe cleaner and the other end (which goes through the hole in the roasting pan) must have a safety knot. In other words, one pipe cleaner has one loop and one safety knot.
- The diameter of the loops is approximately 7.6 to 10 centimeters.
Step 3. Insert the cardboard tube (can be taken from a paper roll or paper towel roll) into the two loops, so that the tube is in the loop
- You can also use a broom, a measuring stick (like a ruler) or another large stick. Make sure that the material you use is longer than the diameter of your gong.
- The tube or stick you use will serve as a support for your gong.
Step 4. Start setting the gong
Position two work chairs or dining chairs with their backs to each other. Place the gong supports across each top of the seat back so that the gong can hang properly.
- You can tie the support to the chair by using a pipe cleaner so that the support does not move everywhere.
- As an alternative, you can use two large and thick books or other sturdy objects of the same size instead of a chair. Any object that you use as a substitute for a chair must be able to stand upright without any support.
Step 5. Wrap the ends of the chopsticks with adhesive tape and make a fairly thick bandage
- You can also use a wooden spoon or stick (can be purchased at any hardware store) as long as 30.5 cm instead of chopsticks.
- The tip of the chopsticks wrapped by adhesive tape will become the head of the gong, with a thickness of about 5 to 10 centimeters.
Step 6. Play your gong
Strike the flat bottom of the roasting pan with a chopstick beater.
Method 2 of 5: Maracas
Step 1. Half-fill a 250-milliliter plastic bottle with a material that produces noise
Close your bottle tightly.
- You can fill your bottle with a large selection of ingredients. For louder sounds, you can fill the bottle with pebbles, green beans, rice, seeds (for bird food), dry pasta, small iron rings, or paper clips. If you want a less loud sound, you can use sand, salt, or a small rubber eraser to fill your bottle with.
- You can also mix and match ingredients for your maracas filling or use other ingredients not mentioned earlier. Make sure that the ingredients for your maracas filling should be small enough to allow them to move freely in the bottle.
Step 2. Cut the cardboard tube lengthwise
You can use a cardboard tube of toilet paper. Make the cut as straight as possible.
- Only make one longitudinal cut on the tube. Do not cut the cardboard tube in half.
- If you are using a cardboard tube made of paper towels, you will need to divide the tube in half before making the longitudinal cuts. You only need half the pieces for one maracas.
Step 3. Attach one of the openings (ends) of the tube to the neck of the bottle and tighten the tube so that it is close to the neck of the bottle
Adjust the diameter of the tube opening to about 1.9 centimeters or adjust it so that the tube opening fits into the neck of the bottle
Step 4. Use adhesive tape to secure the cardboard tube with the bottle
Start by wrapping the bottom of the neck of the bottle. Wrap the bottle in a circular motion and there are layers of adhesive tape that cover each other until the bottom of the cardboard tube is wrapped and firmly attached to the bottle. This cardboard tube will later become a handle for your maracas.
- Wrap gently and don't leave any gaps between the layers of adhesive tape.
- Use adhesive tape with a bright color or pattern to make your maracas look more attractive.
Step 5. Cover the entire cardboard tube with additional adhesive tape
Keep wrapping the cardboard tube until the entire tube is covered with adhesive tape.
You will also need to seal the exposed end of the cardboard tube using adhesive tape
Step 6. When you're done, make a second maracas
Use the same method to make your second maracas. Also use a bottle of the same size, which is 250 milliliters.
Try using a different filling for your second maracas. Real maracas sold in stores have a variety of pitches. You can create different pitches using different fills. For example, maracas with rice filling will have a higher pitch than maracas with mung bean filling
Step 7. Play your maracas
Hold one maracas with your right hand and the other with your left hand. Shake the two maracas to make a sound. Try experimenting with rhythm and sound by shaking your maracas at different times.
Method 3 of 5: Tambourin Sticks
Step 1. Find a Y-shaped tree branch
The branch should have two branches and one straight branch at the bottom that will be used as a handle for your tambourine stick.
- Make sure that the branch you are using is sturdy. If possible, use branches from strong woody trees.
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You can decorate it with paint, feathers, beads, or other materials so that later your instrument looks more colorful and attractive. Make sure you don't hang decorations on branches.
Make Musical Instruments with Recycled Materials Step 14Bullet2
Step 2. Heat a dozen metal bottle caps
First remove the rubber that is stuck to the inside of the bottle cap, then heat it over the coals for about five minutes.
- Ask an adult for help to complete this step.
- Do not touch the metal bottle cap with your finger while the temperature is still high. Use tongs to move the bottle caps.
- This step is optional. It's okay if you don't follow it, but if you follow this step, the sound your instrument will produce will be better later on.
Step 3. Flatten the caps (as flat as possible) with a hammer once they are cool enough for you to touch
- In general, you should focus on flattening the jagged edges of the cap.
- Be careful when working so you don't hurt your hands. You may need to do this step under adult supervision.
Step 4. Make a hole in the center of each bottle cap
To make a hole, place a nail in the center of the bottle cap and then use a hammer to hammer the nail through the bottle cap.
- Remove the nail after you've drilled the hole in the bottle cap.
- Do this step with an adult to reduce the risk of injury.
Step 5. Attach the bottle caps to a strong iron wire by threading the wire through the holes in each bottle cap until all the bottle caps are attached
The wire you use should be longer than the distance between the ends of the branches on the branch you are using
Step 6. Attach the wire to the branch by tying the two ends of the wire to each branch
Make sure you tie the wire at the end of the branch or at the widest part (if the two branches are different lengths)
Step 7. Play your tambourine
Hold your tambourine and shake it. Bottle caps colliding with each other make a sound that you can use while playing music.
Method 4 of 5: Bells
Step 1. Collect some metal cans
Use about four to six cans of various shapes and sizes. Make sure that the cans are clean and safe to use.
- Cans such as soup cans, tuna cans, coffee cans, and pet food cans can be a good choice.
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Place a thick piece of adhesive tape around the lip of the can if the part looks pointy or uneven so that it doesn't hurt you.
Make Musical Instruments with Recycled Materials Step 21Bullet2
Step 2. Make a hole in the bottom of the can
Turn the can over and place a nail in the center of the bottom of the can. Use a hammer to hit the nail until it hits the hole.
- Perform these steps under adult supervision.
- Repeat this method for each can.
Step 3. Thread a piece of string that is long enough into the hole in the can
Do the same for each can using another piece of yarn.
- You can use twine, cable, or another type of thick rope.
- Leave about 20 centimeters of thread that emerges from the top (flat part) of the tallest can. For other cans, the length of the thread that appears may vary, but make sure that the cans can collide with each other when hanging.
Step 4. Tie a metal ring to the thread that emerges from the can
You can use other items such as stones instead of metal rings. Make sure the object is heavy enough to make a sound when it hits the wall of the can
Step 5. Hang the cans at the bottom of the clothes hanger
The cans must be in a position close to each other when hanging
Step 6. Play your bells
Place your bells in a windy place and when the wind blows, the wind will move the bells so that they ring. You can also ring the bells by hitting them with chopsticks.
Method 5 of 5: Harmonica
Step 1. Stack two ice cream sticks
- If you are using an old ice cream stick, make sure you wash and dry it before using it for this craft.
- You can use any size ice cream stick, but it is recommended to use a large ice cream stick.
Step 2. Wrap the tip of the ice cream stick with a piece of paper
Glue the paper using adhesive tape. Also wrap the other end of the ice cream stick.
- Each piece of paper measures about 7.6 centimeters long and 1.9 centimeters wide.
- You will need to wrap the paper several times until the pieces of paper are used up.
- When gluing the paper wrap, make sure you are only gluing the paper and not sticking the adhesive tape to the ice cream stick.
Step 3. Remove one of the ice cream sticks from the stack of ice cream sticks
Be careful not to damage the paper wrap.
- Save the ice cream sticks.
- The rest of the ice cream sticks should remain in the paper wrap.
Step 4. Attach the rubber band lengthwise so that it holds the ice cream stick and paper wrap
Attach a rubber band from one end of the ice cream stick to the other. The rubber must be tight, but not too tight as it may break or fall off
Step 5. Now put the ice cream sticks that you removed earlier on top of the ice cream sticks wrapped in paper, so that the rubber band is between the two ice cream sticks
Make sure you place your second stick of ice cream snugly so that when viewed from above, below and side the stack of ice cream sticks looks neat
Step 6. Hold the second ice cream stick by tying each of the two ends of the second ice cream stick to both ends of the first ice cream stick with rubber bands
This rubber band must be tied to the outside of the paper wrap
Step 7. Your harmonica has been created
Now you can play your harmonica by blowing air into the gap between the two ice cream sticks. Adjust your breath so that the air you exhale actually passes through the gap.
