Make Your Own Worship Tools
Making your own musical instruments are very rewarding. Why? It will encourage you to move creatively and to play a few musical instruments during worship service at church. Below are suggestions for simple, handmade instruments.
Bells— A empty film canister, craft stick, jingle bells , wire, and stickers or colored vinyl tape can be used to make a cluster bell. Paint the craft sticks one solid color. When the stick dries, decorate the sticks and the container with stickers or colored vinyl tape. With the scissors, push small holes in the canister, so you can attach the bells with the wire to it. It will securely be attach when you twist the wire to the inside of canister. You will complete this again and again until the canister is completely full of bells. Cut a small slit in the center top lid to hold the craft sticks securely. Optional: Hot glue lid top of canister around the edge. Push in the craft stick, and enjoy your cluster bell.
Castanets—Stack two identical buttons on top of each other with the raised edges together. Cut a 1/2” x 1-1/2” piece of craft foam. Wrap it around one edge and use a low temp hot glue gun to glue in place top and bottom. Cut a 6” piece of round elastic for each button. Thread through two holes and tie off to fit your finger. Double knot and trim. To use, slide your thumb in the bottom elastic and your index finger in the top button elastic and clack together.
Cymbals—Two saucepan covers struck together with a glancing blow make a pleasant clang. Another cymbal sound can be made by suspending a saucepan on a string and striking it with drumstick.
Drum—An empty can, an oatmeal box, a plastic tub, or a pail can be used as a drum. The drum head can be the top of a box or a piece of fabric stretched tightly over the top and held in place with a rubber band. Decorate the outside with paint or cover it with construction paper enlivened with pasted or colored designs. The child can strike the drum with his hand or a drumstick. If the child want to wear the drum around his neck, make two small holes in the side of the drum. Thread through the holes a piece of yarn or string long enough to go around the child’s neck.
Drumstick—A wooden dowel or a stick can be a drumstick. If you wish, attach a wooden spool or small rubber ball to one end. Other household items (wooden cooking tools, toys) also make good drumsticks.
Finger Cymbals—Two caps from a baby food jars can be used as a finger cymbal with a strip of foam and glue. Cut two 1-7/8” out of foam. Glue them to the inside of the baby food jar caps. Cut a strip of foam 4-1/2” X 7/8”. Glue into a loop and glue the loop inside a cap. This will slide on to two fingers. Cut a strip of foam 3-1/2” x 7/8”. Glue into a loop and glue the loop inside the other cap. This will slide on the your thumb. Optional: decorate with confetti.
Flag— Choose fabric that is light weight, and resist creasing. 3/4 inch thick wooden pole, double sided adhesive tape, and Velcro. This also enable the removal of fabric for easy washing. To learn how to make this flag in details, click here.
Paper Bag Maracas—A small paper bag, dried beans, string, and markers or paint used to make maracas. Decorate the outside of the paper bag with marker or paint. When dry, place a handful of bean inside the bag. Then, tie the bag securely shut with string. Have the child to hold the closed end of the bag and shake away!
Shaker—Two paper plates or a small can be made into a shaker. If you use paper plates, first let the student decorate the bottoms of the plates with crayons or paint. Put the two plates together with the decorated the bottom facing out. Add a small amount of dried beans or small stones between the two plates and staple them securely together. If you use a can, decorate the outside (construction paper works well), put beans or small stones inside, and tightly cover the open end with paper, foil, or a plastic lid that fits securely.
Shofar—A New Year’s party horn, brown craft paper, glue, glitter, markers or paint to create a horn just like Joshua did at the walls of Jericho. Decorate a large piece of brown kraft paper with markers and painted designs. Let dry. Spread a thin layer of glue over the paper and sprinkle with glitter. Knock off extra. Let dry. Apply glue to the back of the brown paper after decorating, and then wrap it while still wet round the party horn. Trim excess, bend the open end up a little to shapes as a Shofar. Let dry.
Streamers— Wide Double Sided Ribbon, dowel rod or baton, and sewing machine is needed to make this streamer with split ring, obtainable from craft shops. This also enables the removal of the ribbon for washing. To learn how to make this streamer in details, click here.
Tambourine—An embroidery hoop with added bells or bottle cap “jingles is easy to hold and works well. To make jingles, punch a hole in the center of six bottle caps, place the caps back-to-back, and attach to the hoop with nail through each set.
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