Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 6: Making a drum from a balloon
• Method 2 of 6: Make maracas
• Method 3 of 6: Make a flute
• Method 4 of 6: Making a xylophone from a water bottle
• Method 5 of 6: Make a rain pipe
• Method 6 of 6: Make a strohobo
• Tips
• Necessities

You can make beautiful music even without expensive instruments! Musical instruments have been made from natural materials for thousands of years. Why should that not be possible nowadays? In this article you will learn how to make a simple drum, maracas, flute, xylophone and rain pipe.

To step

Method 1 of 6: Making a drum from a balloon

1. Choose a drum base. You can use an old bucket, bowl, or vase as the base for your drum. Choose an object that is deep and sturdy enough for this. Glass items are not suitable as a base for your drum.
2. Buy a bag of balloons. Some will likely break, so make sure you have enough spare. Choose large, sturdy balloons that will fit your chosen drum base.
3. Cut the bottom part of the balloon. Use scissors to cut the balloon in half. Cut the balloon at the point where it starts to narrow.
4. Pull the piece of balloon that is left over the drum base. Use one hand to hold the balloon in place and the other hand to pull it over the base. Make sure that the opening of the bucket, vase or bowl is completely covered.
   • It can be useful to do this in pairs. This makes it easier to keep the balloon in place.
   • If the balloon does not fit over your drum base, you will have to purchase larger balloons.
5. Secure the balloon with tape. Use sturdy tape to secure the balloon to the edge of your drum base.
6. Play the drum with drumsticks. These can be, for example, Chinese chopsticks, but also pencils or other thin, elongated objects.

Method 2 of 6: Make maracas

1. Choose a base for your maraca or maracas. For example, you can use a coffee can, a glass jar with a lid or cardboard cylinders. Wooden boxes are also very suitable. Which base you choose determines how the instrument will sound in the end.
2. Pick something to shake. There are all kinds of small objects you can use to make an interesting shaking sound. For example, think of:
   • Beads of plastic, glass or wood
   • Dried beans or rice
   • Coins
   • Seeds
3. Put the items in your chosen base.
4. Close the base with a lid.
5. Seal the base with tape. You can also mask the entire box or can.
6. Decorate your makeshift maracas. Give your instrument cheerful colors with, for example, paint or markers.
7. Shake it! Use your maraca as a percussion instrument.

Method 3 of 6: Make a flute

1. Get a glass jar or bottle. A wine bottle, but also empty bottles of tomato sauce are suitable for this.
2. Drill a hole about an inch in circumference in the bottom. Use a glass cutter to make a small hole in the bottom of the jar or bottle.
3. Blow over the hole that is already in the top of the jar. Make sure you place your lips diagonally on the edge so that you blow horizontally across the opening. Keep blowing until you produce a clear note. This may take a while, but keep practicing!
4. Close the drilled hole with your finger. This way you produce a different tone. In total you can therefore produce two tones with the flute.
5. Try moving your head a bit to make the note sharper or flatter.

Method 4 of 6: Making a xylophone from a water bottle

1. Use five half-liter water bottles. Choose round bottles with a flat base and a wide opening. You can also use pots. Give the bottles numbers 1 to 5.
2. Fill the bottles with different amounts of water. Keep the following quantities:
   • Bottle 1: 0.5 liters. This creates an F.
   • Bottle 2: 0.4 liters. This creates a G.
   • Bottle 3: 0.3 liters. This creates an A.
   • Bottle 4: 0.2 liters. This creates a C.
   • Bottle 5: 0.1 liter. This creates a D.
3. Play the bottles with a metal spoon. Hit the sides of the bottles with this to produce the nuts.

Method 5 of 6: Make a rain pipe

1. Drive small nails into a cardboard tube. It doesn't matter how much space there is between the nails. Make sure you use at least 15 nails for the right effect.
2. Seal the bottom of the tube with tape. You can also use a piece of cardboard to make sure nothing can fall out of the tube.
3. Add "rain". Pour in some rice, sand, dried beans, beads, corn, or other small items that will make the rain sound.
4. Also seal the top of the tube. You can do this with both cardboard and tape.
5. Wrap the tube with wrapping paper. You can also use stickers or paint to decorate the tube.
6. Play the rain pipe. Tilt the tube from side to side. The moving objects will now make the sound of rain.

Method 6 of 6: Make a strohobo

1. Grab a straw. You can find one in almost any restaurant or you may have one in your home.
   • Small straws (such as coffee straws or Capri Sun straws) or straws that bend will not work.
2. Flatten one end of the straw with your teeth to create a mouthpiece just like with a double cane. Experiment until it makes noise.
   • If it's easy to blow through and no sound comes out like a normal straw, try flattening it a bit. Or you can use your embouchure (lip position) to keep the sides further down.
   • If it is really hard to blow in it may be too flat. Blow into the other end to slightly open the reed.
3. Cut holes in it with scissors.
   • Plan where you want the hole and how big. Cover it with a finger.
   • Poke two holes in the straw with the sharp end of the scissors. The small holes should be at the top and bottom of where you want the hole in the straw.
   • When you poke the holes, make them as big as possible, but be careful not to let the tool pierce the other side of the straw or air could leak out.
   • Using scissors, insert the tip of each scissor blade into the small holes made by the compass. If the holes are too small for the blades, reposition the compass and try turning it a bit to make the holes bigger.
   • Make a notch with the scissors to connect the holes.
   • Now that you have a larger space for the scissors, insert a scissor blade into the line you cut and carefully cut out a circle.
4. Cut as many holes as you want.
   • Don't make too many. You only have ten fingers to play with! A recommended number is six.
   • If the holes are too high, they can disturb the vibrations of the reed.
5. Blow into the reed in the same way as a woodwind, such as an oboe.
   • Every straw sounds different. It may even sound just like a clarinet!

Tips

• Another way to make a drum: Paint a bucket. Cover it with clear paint to make it shine. Do this with several buckets until you have enough for a drum set. Then simply turn them upside down and start playing!

Necessities

Drum

• A pot, bucket or bowl
• A balloon
• Tape
• Chopsticks

Maracas

• A container with a lid
• Dried rice, beans, beads, etc.
• Tape
• Paint or stickers

Flute

• Water or wine bottle
• Glass cutter

Xylophone

• 5 half liter water bottles with flat bottoms
• Measuring cup
• Water
• A spoon

Rain pipe

• Roll kitchen paper
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Tape
• Nails
• Hammer
• Wrapping paper