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Making home-made functional instruments!
Making home-made functional instruments!
My creative project was inspired by environmental awareness as well as the COVID-19 lockdowns. Sometimes, we don't always have the resources we need to become our best musician selves. But don't worry, all you need is a musical spirit and creative attitude!
By making functional instruments from recycled materials, I demonstrate that music can be made from anything, and that music and sustainability go hand-in-hand.
I encourage and challenge you to explore the endless possibilities in music education!
Rice Shaker/ Drum (2-in-1!)
IMG_5859.movGet any container (like this yogurt container). A tin container would work best sound-wise, but work with anything you have at home!
2. Fill it with rice (or even anything like buttons or pen lids). Close the lid tightly. Now you're ready to make some percussive beats while demonstrating that rhythm can be maintained in different ways!
Tissue Box Uke
IMG_5840.MOVGet a regular tissue box. Make sure the 'sound hole' is clear, i.e. peel off any plastic.
2. Wrap some rubber bands (varying in thickness and tightness) around the tissue box in any way so that they don't break. Now get strumming and plucking!
Balloon Bassoon
IMG_5855.mov
Materials:
1x long cylinder-shaped object (A PVC pressure pipe is ideal, but you could also use a cardboard paper towel roll tube).
scissors
tape/ duct tape
regular balloon
rubber bands
Mouthpiece (a short piece of garden hose is ideal, but you could also cut a bubble tea straw)
Working on the mouthpiece, get the piece of straw and attach it to the balloon with a rubber band (or duct tape)
3. Use duct tape/ tape to attach the cut edge of the ballon to the PVC pipe/ cardboard paper towel roll.
2. Cut about one-third of the balloon off.
4. TA-DA! Finished! You can start playing your bassoon by blowing into the mouth piece. Pull the cardboard paper towel roll towards and away from you to adjust the pitch. It's great for teaching about pitch and how tension can create sound!
Paddle-Pop Harmonica
IMG_5847.movMaterials:
2x paddle-pop sticks
a regular piece of paper (same length as the paddle pop sticks)
2x rubber bands
2x toothpicks/ matchsticks without the flammable head
Trace the paddle-pop stick onto the paper.
3. Now it's time to add the layers together. Place the piece of paper between the two paddle-pop sticks. Sandwich
2.Cut out what you've traced.
4. Secure the layers. Tie the two ends of the paddle pop stick together using rubber bands. And Voilà! You play this instrument but blowing in between the toothpicks.
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