Button Castanets

Large buttons are brought together with elastic thread to make fun and easy castanets.  Making friends also glues foam onto one end to secure them futher.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.makingfriends.com/music/castanets.htm

Tin Pie Pan Tambourine

A disposable tin pie pan turns into a tambourine with the help of markers, jingle bells and pipe cleaners and my cakies.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mycakies.com/2014/06/camp-home-pie-pan-tambourine/

Water Xylophone

Water is color coded with food coloring to make this nifty water inspired xylophone from meet the dubiens to help kids see the sound.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2011/03/rainbow-xylophone.html

Cindy derosier uses bottles.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.cindyderosier.com/2014/08/the-cursive-project-xylophone.html

Kids DIY Cymbals

Aluminum pie pans are colored with markers and turned into musical cymbals with crayola.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
https://www.crayola.com/crafts/celebration-cymbals-craft/

Shaker Bells

A wooden y stick, acorn tops and small jingle bells are put together with minieco to make a bell shaker. 

Good for ages 13 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.minieco.co.uk/bell-shaker-with-added-bling/

DIY Kazoos

 

 

Happy National Kazoo Day.  Celebrate with one of these kid friendly kazoo making crafts.

 

Craft scope uses a paper towel roll to and wax paper to make a kazoo.  They then cover it with colorful tape and stickers.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.craftscope.com/kazoo/

Kids spot adds feathers and ribbon to their version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kidspot.com.au/Toddler-Play-Kazoo+1642+25+article.htm

 Sophie world uses popsicle sticks and cut straws for her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://sophie-world.com/crafts/popsicle-stick-kazoo

Love to laugh and learn makes a trumpet kazoo.

 

Get the instructions here:

http://lovetolaughandlearn.com/fun-with-music-brass-instruments/trumpet-kazoo-craft/

 

 

 

Busy bee kids crafts uses a toilet paper roll.

 

Get the instructions here:

http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Kazoo.html

 

 

Choices 4 children uses scraps of paper to make the kazoo hum.

 

Get the instructions here:

http://choices4children.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/tongue-depressor-kazoo.html

 

 





Musical Sticks

Kids will have fun turning ordinary sticks into colorful musical instruments with untrendy life's yarn wrapped jingle bell sticks.  It's a fun craft that starts outdoors in the collection process, and continue on with their concerts.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.untrendylife.com/2014/03/yarn-wrapped-sticks-with-bells.html

DIY Mandolins

An easy and colorful idea for a cute musical toy is to make mandolins out of embroidery hoops and pretty colored rubber bands.  Hello bee has an excellent tutorial and even paints the outside of the hoops to make them even cuter.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hellobee.com/2013/07/29/diy-wood-instruments/

DIY Trumpets

A funnel and long tube transform with the help of some duct tape into a play trumpet courtesy of concordia news.

Good ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.concordianews.org/kids/2009/judgeg/craft.htm

Bible story's version starts with a toilet paper tube, enhanced with two paper cutouts and some cute buttons.

Get the instructions here:
http://biblestoryhour.blogspot.jp/2009/05/unit-1-lesson-10-gideon.html

Paper Plate Tambourine

Easy preschool crafts turns paper plates into a tambourine using markers, yarn, tissue paper and popcorn seeds to make the noise.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://easypreschoolcraft.blogspot.com/2012/06/paper-plate-tambourineshaker-music.html

 

All kids network adds jingle bells to their version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/music/tambourine-craft.asp

Education.com uses yarn as well but makes longer ties.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.education.com/activity/article/Paper_Plate_Tambourines/

La maison de loulou uses cardboard and wood star beads for her mister emotional tamborin.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.lamaisondeloulou.com/blog/2013/09/18/5-minutes-diy-mister-emotional-tambourin/

Rice Rattle

El hada de papel has introduces what she calls a rice rattle using a toilet paper tube, tissue paper, rice, glue and rubber bands.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://elhadadepapel.blogspot.com/2011/05/maraca-de-arroz.html

DIY Cardboard Guitar

Ikat bag has instructions for making a guitar out of cardboard, rubber bands and a paper tube.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ikatbag.com/2012/07/cardboard-guitar.html

Minieco has a box version using rubber bands and split pins.  There aren't any instructions though, just visuals.  There are some helpful tips in the comments though. 

See the images here:
http://www.minieco.co.uk/cardboard-instruments/

Makedo has a more elaborate cardboard guitar and it's shiny.

Get the instructions here:
http://makedo.com.au/inspiration-insight/how-to-make-cardboard-guitar.html

The frakers acres take cereal boxes, popsicle sticks, yarn and wrapping paper tubes for an easier approach 

Get the instructions here:
http://thefrakersacres.blogspot.com/2011/03/happy-its-march.html

Zakka life uses a matchbox and popsicle stick for her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2011/06/kid-craft-matchbox-guitar.html

Lyndsxo glamour moms uses a small plastic container to make her cardboard version work.

Get the instructions here:
http://lyndsxo-glamourmoms.blogspot.com/2010/10/daily-play-cardboard-guitar.html

Martha Stewart paints hers orange.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/265694/making-music?xsc=eml_crd_2011_08_17&om_rid=NbR$fr&om_mid=_BOS651B8WNdJPT

Tin Can Wind Chimes

Learn 2 grow suggests making wind chimes out of tin cans.  All you need is some paint, tin cans and string.  Kids can have fun painting the cans and hearing them as the wind blows.  Remember to tape the bottom of the cans for any sharp edges.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.learn2grow.com/projects/forchildren/outdoors/EasyKidsGardenProjects.aspx

Hands on as we grow has the same project.

http://handsonaswegrow.com/2011/06/outdoor-music-diy-windchimes/ 

How to Make a Straw Pan Flute

Classic play has a really easy way to create a musical instrument using plastic straws and tape to create a diy pan flute.  The trick is cutting the straws to the sounds you want.  She recommends cutting each straw an inch apart.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.classic-play.com/straw-pan-flute/

Deceptively educational has a tutorial as well.

http://deceptivelyeducational.blogspot.com/2012/04/making-magic-drinking-straw-flute.html

DIY Duct Tape Drum

Unschool me has a duct tape drum tutorial using a form tube, but you could also probably use an ice cream container from the local ice cream shop.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://unschoolme.blogspot.com/2011/05/duct-tape-drums.html

Hello wonderful decorates a tin can.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/diy-packing-tape-drum-set

DIY Oatmeal Container Drum

Serving pink lemonade has a cute idea for how to make a quick and easy drum. Strip an oatmeal canister of it's lining, add a chevron strip and attach a ribbon, take 2 unsharpened pencils and then you have it.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://servingpinklemonade.blogspot.com/2012/02/oatmeal-canister-drum.html

Kix covers their version with felt.

Get the instructions here:
http://kixcereal.com/oatmeal-container-drum/

DIY Soup Can Drum

Kids activity blog shares how to make a drum from a metal can, tape, and balloons.  Make sure to tape the cans really well for sharp edges.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/big-thoughts-creative-kids/

 

A beautiful mess takes the tin can drum a step further gluing on fabric and lacing with leather.   She even makes sticks using wooden sticks and cotton.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/12/gift-idea-diy-drums-1.html

Growing a jeweled rose hangs her drums from a rope to give them a different sound.  

Get the instructions here:

http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2012/06/tin-can-backyard-band.html

How to Make a Harmonica

Mess for less has a super simple homemade harmonica using a popsicle stick, rubber bands and construction paper.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.messforless.net/2012/02/making-music-homemade-harmonica.html

Housing a forest has a similar tutorial but uses just the sticks and rubber bands.  She uses colored sticks but markers would be fun too.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.housingaforest.com/popsicle-stick-harmonica/

Music Shakers

Art is basic provides instructions for how to make a rattle using a paper plate, beans, paper mache, paper, feathers, paint and other materials to decorate.  A great paper mache idea for kids.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://vividlayers.blogspot.com/2011/12/paper-mache-rattles-kindergarten.html

The educators spin on it wraps plastic lid containers with colorful wrapping paper and fills them with an assortment of different beans, rice and seeds to make different sound effects.

Get the instructions here:
 http://www.theeducatorsspinonit.com/2012/01/baby-time-lets-make-music.html

Turn Kleenex box into a Ukulele

A cleverer version of myself shows how turn a kleenex box into a ukulele. Unfortunate the blog is closed to the public but you could contact the author Renee Laprise to see if she'll give you access http://www.blogger.com/profile/07549443356264490601

Good for ages 6 and up.