When you are finished constructing your instruments, have a camera ready to take a picture of the band. Record this activity in your child's scrapbook so you can look back in years to come.

 

• 2 paper plates
• stapler or glue
• hole punch
• string
• jingle bells
• crayons

Staple or glue two paper plates together, facing each other. Using a hole punch, make holes around the plates and tie jingle bells to the holes with string. Decorate the tambourine with crayons.
 

Safety note: If using a stapler, an adult should do this. When finished be sure to cover the staples with scotch tape.

 

• empty oatmeal box with cover
• yarn
• pen
• 2 pencils
• 2 spools
• construction paper
• crayons

Before beginning, you can decorate the oatmeal box with construction paper and/or crayons for a colourful effect.

Place the cover on the box. Use a pen to make a hole in the centre of the cover and in the centre of the bottom of the box. Through these holes, pull a piece of yarn long enough to hang around child's neck and down to their waist.

For the drumsticks, place the spools at the ends of the pencils, secure with glue if necessary.

Beat to play.
 

CHIMES

• ruler or stick

• washers

• nail polish

• string

• mixing spoon

Hang the washers from the ruler or stick with pieces of string by wrapping the string around the ruler or stick and securing. Strike the washers with the mixing spoon to play.

Note: You can make this craft colourful by painting the washers first with different colour nail polishes, such as red, gold, glittery, etc. Parents should supervise this part of the activity closely.
 

HORN

• paper towel roll
• waxed paper
• rubber band
• pen

Cover one end of the paper towel roll with waxed paper, secure it with a rubber band. Punch a row of holes along one side of the roll with the tip of a pen.

To play, sing a tune into the open end of the horn.


CYMBALS

• two matching pot covers

• yarn or ribbon

Tie the ribbon or yarn around the handles of the pot covers. To play, strike together.


XYLOPHONE

• tall glasses or jars

• water

• mixing spoon

Fill the glasses or jars with different amounts of water. The more water in the glass, the lower the pitch will be. Having less water in the glass or jar will raise the pitch.

To play, gently strike the glasses with a mixing spoon.

Note: older children in “the band” because of the use of glass should probably play this instrument.


COMB BUZZER

• pocket comb

• tissue paper

Fold a piece of tissue paper over the tooth edge of a comb. To play, hum through the tissue paper.


GUITAR

• empty shoebox

• rubber bands

• ruler or stick

Remove the cover from the box. Stretch the rubber bands around the box.  Attach the ruler or stick to the back of the box on one end to act as the arm of the guitar.

To play, strum or pluck the rubber bands.


HAND BELLS

• 2 paper towel rolls

• hole punch

• 4 jingle bells

• string or yarn

Punch a hole in each end of the paper towel rolls. Tie two jingle bells to each side of the paper towel rolls by running string or yarn through the holes and carefully tying off.

Shake to play.

Have fun and let creativity and imagination run wild! Record the band's first song and play back for some great giggle time. Enjoy!