Make Music: Using Rhythm Instruments in Early Childhood Classrooms

f e a t u r e by Louise Parks Make music: Using rhythm instruments in early childhood classrooms

Note: This is the first in a two-part and stomped their feet but sel- Over three months, Mr. Harris article. In the summer issue, we dom to the beat. After conversa- built a collection of instruments— will offer ideas on using these tions with other teachers, revela- shakers, sticks, bells, horns, and rhythm instruments with children. tions at a workshop, and a bit of drums—all built from discarded research, he moved deliberately to or recycled household materials. n n n introduce music—rhythm and He built the collection methodi- beat—to the children in his group. cally and often invited the chil- n September, Mr. Harris noticed His tools were inexpensive, easy dren to construct the instruments Ihow much interest his 3-year- to build, and engaging rhythm themselves. old class demonstrated when he instruments that the children now played music, sang rhymes, and use almost every day to reinforce Background offered opportunities to dance. music, literacy, and even math information The children clapped, swayed, skills. The source of all sound is move-

z ment, scientifically called vibra- t tions. While we can’t see sound vibrations (though we can feel and hear them), sound waves can by susan gae be recorded and broadcast in an oto

ph infinite variety of tones. Sound waves can travel through objects and travel best through solid objects made of metal or wood and less well through the air. Frequency describes the rate or speed of a vibration in a given time period. Pitch corresponds to a sound’s frequency. In music, low notes have a lower frequency and sound slower or heavier, while high notes have a higher frequency and sound lighter, fast- er, and higher. The degree of loudness of a sound is called volume. High volume intensifies and amplifies (makes louder) the vibrations. Volume can be loud or soft. When sound tones are not relat-

© Texas Child Care quarterly / spring 2019 / VOLUME 42, NO. 4 / childcarequarterly.com ed, we call the sound noise; when your eyes out for used instru- 1. Invite children to place the fun- they are related, as in symphony, ments such as guitars, ukuleles, nel into the mouth of the bottle. we call the sound music. Music is and autoharps. Take care to 2. Measure and pour about 1 created by instruments that are choose or borrow instruments tablespoon of pebbles into the designed to use frequency, the that reflect the musical traditions bottle. speed of sound vibrations, to con- of various cultures including 3. Add confetti as desired. trol pitch—the high or low sound maracas, African drums, and 4. Run a bead of glue around the the instrument produces. In a Jamaican steel drums. lip of the bottle and twist the lid stringed instrument, for example, into place. Allow the glue to dry loose strings vibrate at a lower Making instruments overnight. frequency and produce lower Some instruments will demand tones, while tight strings vibrate adult preparation and sometimes Film canister shakers at a higher frequency and pro- even completion. But never pass Make a simple version of caxixi duce higher tones. up an opportunity to let children (pronounced ka-she-she) shakers be involved in creating, personal- that originated in Africa and are Getting started izing, and building the tools they often used in Brazil. Build your rhythm instrument will use. collection with donations from Here’s what you need: families and friends. Let every- Shakers ■ empty film canisters with lids one know that you’ll be building Learning to shake an instrument ■ pebbles or aquarium gravel a collection over time and will challenges a child’s coordination ■ white glue send notes with specific requests. and dexterity. Maracas (small ■ tablespoon Ask for specific materials to hand-held instruments that you ■ funnel avoid a heap of materials that are shake) and tambourines (shallow, ■ scissors too dissimilar to use. For exam- hand-held drums that you shake, ■ colored plastic tape ple, a request for empty coffee rub, or hit with the knuckles) containers may bring you differ- invite explorations of rhythm and 1. Invite the children to pour grav- ent sizes of cans, jars, and bags, tempo. Consider making a variety el into the containers. some without lids, and many of instruments and encourage Encourage social cooperation by dented or pierced. Instead, ask children to listen to the different having one child hold the con- for 1-pound metal cans, with tones each produces. tainer firmly on the table while plastic lids. Focus on a single the other holds the funnel and material at a time to avoid stor- Water bottle maracas pours in the gravel. Remind the age issues. Traditionally, maracas were made children that differing amounts Some materials will be quite of dried gourds filled with seeds of gravel will produce different specific, so it may be useful to and played for Carnival in Latin sounds. make personal requests. For American countries. If you have a 2. Run a bead of white glue along example, if you know a wood- gourd garden, dry the produce to the lip of the container and seal 5 worker, you might ask for ⁄8-inch make authentic maracas. with the plastic lid. Allow the wooden dowels cut into 12-inch glue to dry overnight. lengths. Here’s what you need: 3. Decorate the canisters with col- Of course, you can buy many ■ clear, plastic, bottles with lids ored tape. instruments from educational ■ white glue 4. Check the caxixi regularly to suppliers, but it’s good to save ■ pebbles or aquarium gravel make sure the lids are sealed. money when you can. For trian- ■ funnel Variation: Instead of film canis- gles, xylophones, and metal cym- ■ tablespoon ters, use pint-sized milk contain- bals that are difficult to construct, ■ confetti (paper scraps, foil, or ers, plastic eggs, or small plastic check second-hand shops and ribbon) bottles. Add sand, pebbles, wood- garage sales. And always keep working washers, or gravel noise

© Texas Child Care quarterly / spring 2019 / VOLUME 42, NO. 4 / childcarequarterly.com makers. Decorate with appropri- 1. Cover work surface with news- 8. Hold the hardened balloon knot ate collage materials. Encourage paper or plastic sheeting to side up. Place a tube over the children to compare the sounds. make cleanup easier. knot and trace a circle. Cut out 2. Pour equal amounts of water the circle and push the card- Papier mâche maracas and white glue into a bowl. Stir board tube into the hole. Tape These are durable instruments but gently. the tube in place to make the take time to build. School-agers 3. Tear strips of newspaper (about maracas handle. will enjoy this week-long project. ½-inch wide) and put in the 9. Pour about 2 tablespoons of bowl to soak. gravel into the maracas through Here’s what you need: 4. Blow up a small balloon so that the tube. ■ small balloons the widest diameter is 4 to 6 10. Cover the tube opening with ■ old newspaper inches across. Tie closed. layers of colored plastic tape. ■ white glue 5. Cover the balloon with strips of 11. Paint the maracas and deco- ■ water newspaper, making sure all sur- rate as desired. ■ measuring cup faces are covered and leaving ■ spoon the tied end free. Let dry over- Pie pan tambourine ■ large mixing bowl night. Buy or collect clean recycled alu- ■ liquid tempera and brushes 6. Add additional layers of news- minum pie plates. ■ cardboard tubes paper over at least three days. ■ colored markers You will be able to feel the Here’s what you need: ■ scissors hardening surface and not a pli- ■ aluminum pie plates ■ aquarium gravel able balloon. ■ thick pad of recycled newspaper ■ colored plastic tape 7. Cut the cardboard tube into ■ large nail or awl 4-inch lengths. ■ small tack hammer ■

z heavy twine t ■ large plastic yarn needle ■ jingle bells ■ white glue

by susan gae ■ colored plastic tape oto ph 1. Place a pie plate, bottom up, on a pile of newspaper. 2. Invite the children to decorate the plate with tape. 3. Use the awl or a nail and hammer to make five evenly spaced holes along the circumference of the plate. School-age children may be able to do this for themselves; younger children must have adult assistance. 4. Cut 8-inch lengths of twine, five for each plate. 5. Thread the needle with a length of twine. String the twine through a hole in the pie plate and then through the top of a bell. Tie the twine in a secure knot.

© Texas Child Care quarterly / spring 2019 / VOLUME 42, NO. 4 / childcarequarterly.com 6. Repeat, adding all the bells to 2. At one end of the dowel, drill a gers, leaving an open space in the the plate. Place a drop of glue ¼-inch hole. palm. Hold the end of the second over each of the five knots and 3. Cut the cord into a 12-inch clave in the free hand and bring it allow to dry overnight. length. down to tap the first. Holding the Variation: Test the differing 4. Thread the cord through the clave too tightly, or resting it results when you tie the bells hole and tie in place leaving 6 against the palm will deaden the loosely and tightly to the plate. inches on each tail. sound. The cupped hand lets the 5. Thread each tail with several sound resonate. Paper plate tambourine buttons and beads. Tie a secure This instrument is easy to make knot at the end of the tail. Here’s what you need: with household materials. ■ 1-inch diameter hardwood pole Sticks ■ marker Here’s what you need: Commercially made rhythm sticks ■ wood saw ■ heavy-duty paper plates, 2 for are a mainstay of music and ■ ruler each tambourine rhythm activities in early child- ■ marker ■ staple gun and staples hood classrooms. These sticks are ■ sandpaper ■ markers, crayons, or paint and usually 12 inches long and ½ inch ■ mineral oil brushes in diameter. They are designed to ■ pebbles help children identify and repeat 1. Shop for (or get donated) a ■ ribbon rhythmic patterns. Purchased sets wooden closet rod at a home usually include one stick that is supply store or resale shop. 1. Invite children to decorate the smooth and one that is ridged. 2. Measure, mark, and cut the pole bottom side of two plates as The resonant sound of wood tap- into 6-inch lengths. they desire. ping on wood is easy to identify 3. Invite children to sand the pieces 2. Place one plate on the table and and follow. Rubbing the smooth smooth. put a few pebbles on it. stick along the ridged one pro- 4. Rub the claves with a bit of 3. Place the second plate, bottom duces a distinct sound. mineral oil to seal; allow the oil up, on top of the first plate. Rhythm sticks are inexpensive to absorb overnight. 4. Staple the edges together, plac- to buy, but you can make your ing the staples about 1 inch own as a simple woodworking Rain sticks apart. project. Buy ½-inch diameter Variations of rain sticks have been 5. Staple strips of ribbon around wooden dowels (usually sold in found in Africa, South America, the circumference of the tam- 36-inch lengths) and cut into four and China. They are played by bourine. 9-inch long rods. Invite children tipping them back and forth. The to sand and oil (with a bit of min- pebbles falling through wire cre- Stick shaker eral oil) the rods. Allow the oil to ate the sound of rain. Show children how to shake the absorb overnight and lightly sand stick to rattle the beat. again. Here’s what you need: ■ 2-inch diameter heavy card- Here’s what you need: Claves board tubing or hollow bamboo ■ ¾-inch diameter wooden dowel Claves (pronounced KLAH-vays) stalks ■ ¼-inch drill bit and hand drill are hardwood rhythm sticks, but ■ wide packing tape ■ heavy cord better. Stout and short, claves cre- ■ scissors ■ thick pad of recycled newspaper ate a deeper, more resonant sound ■ plastic-coated hobby wire ■ colored beads with large holes when they are clapped together. ■ pebbles, small buttons, or beads ■ large buttons Show children how to hold the ■ collage materials claves. Cup one hand and rest one ■ school glue 1. Cut the dowel into 6-inch of the claves between the base of ■ markers lengths. the thumb and the ends of the fin-

© Texas Child Care quarterly / spring 2019 / VOLUME 42, NO. 4 / childcarequarterly.com 1. Cut the tubing or bamboo into 4. Cut the nylon webbing into sew securely. 2- to 3-foot lengths. 4-inch lengths. 3. Sew bells to the elastic. For safe- 2. Seal one end with layers of 5. Staple the webbing to the two ty, use large bells (at least ¾ packing tape. narrow ends of the blocks for inch) and sew securely. Check 3. Cut the wire into five 12-inch use as a handle. the stitches before every use. lengths. 4. Invite children to slip the bells 4. Help the children loosely crum- Bells over the ankles or place on an ple the wire and gently push it Bells are enticing for children of infant’s ankles. Encourage the into the tube, one piece at a all ages. Ankle bells stimulate an children to move, shake, or time. Use a yardstick or dowel infant’s sense of hearing; older dance. to push the wire into the tube, children can use them to investi- Variation: Sew the bells to sin- striving to space the wire bun- gate rhythm and beat. gle-sided hook-and-loop tape. Cut dles along the length. the tape into 6-inch lengths. Leave 5. Pour about ½ cup of pebbles Ankle bells 2 inches free and space the bells into the tube. Here’s what you need: along the remaining 4 inches. 6. Seal the open end with packing ■ 1-inch wide elastic These adjustable bracelets will fit tape. ■ scissors either wrists or ankles. Consider 7. Decorate the rain stick with col- ■ large jingle bells making longer strips to fit the lage materials and markers. ■ sewing needle and heavy carpet waist. thread Sand block clappers Clay pot bells Make sand block clappers from 1. Cut lengths of elastic to fit the Ordinary clay flower pots make pairs of similarly sized wood ankle plus 2 inches. charming playground bells. scraps. Purchased sand blocks are 2. Lap the ends of the elastic and Before you begin, identify a space about 5 inches long by 3 inches wide and ¾-inch thick. Scraps of lass c

2-inch by 4-inch lumber cut into t 4-inch lengths will be appropriate an firs for preschoolers. m ns: air Here’s what you need: ■ wood block scraps commo e v ■ i fine sandpaper t

■ rea white glue c ■ scissors ■ wood stapler and staples ■ nylon belt webbing

1. Cut the sandpaper to cover one large surface of the wood block plus 2 inches. If you’re using scrap 2x4s, cut the sandpaper into 4-inch by 6-inch lengths. 2. Evenly spread glue over the back of the sandpaper. 3. Wrap the block with the sandpaper covering one large surface and the two short sides. Let the glue dry overnight.

© Texas Child Care quarterly / spring 2019 / VOLUME 42, NO. 4 / childcarequarterly.com from which the bells can hang hammer to punch a hole in the the tube into the glue and then either permanently or for the chil- center of the can’s bottom. Tie a onto the center of a sheet of dren to use for a specific activity. washer to the end of the twine waxed paper. Secure the paper and a stout knot about 2-inches up in place with a rubber band. Here’s what you need: from the washer. Thread the other 5. Repeat with the other end of the ■ 4-6 clay flower pots, same size end of the twine through the hole tube. Allow the glue to dry for or in graduated sizes and knot again to allow the heavy several hours. Then carefully ■ wooden beads larger than the nut to dangle as a clapper. remove the rubber band. holes in the pots 6. Play the kazoo by humming ■ twine Horns and wind (some children may need prac- ■ scissors instruments tice) into the hole in the tube. ■ wooden dowel, old broomstick, Horns and other wind instruments Note: Kazoo construction or recycled closet rod make sound using human breath. encourages children to work with ■ soft mallet Good breath control and aware- partners. Gluing and holding the ness of hygiene are required—help waxed paper in place is awkward; 1. Check the flower pots to ensure children personalize their instru- show how one child can hold the they are free of cracks. Clean ments so that sharing isn’t neces- tube and paper in place while the and dry each pot. sary. These are best for older pre- other stretches the rubber band to 2. Cut 24-inch lengths of twine, schoolers and school-age children hold the paper in place until the one for each pot. to investigate, construct, and use. glue dries. 3. Tie a wooden bead to one end of the twine. Thread the other Kazoo Soda straw whistle end up through the drainage The kazoo makes its sound by Practice breath control with this hole. The bead will hold the vibrating with the human voice— simple horn. upside-down pot in place. specifically the humming voice 4. Repeat for the other pots. making the waxed paper vibrate. Here’s what you need: 5. If you’re using graduated sizes, ■ plastic soda straws arrange the pots in order— Here’s what you need: ■ scissors smallest to largest. The smallest ■ cardboard tubes bell will have the highest pitch, ■ awl or large nail 1. Show children how to use a the largest will have the lowest ■ collage materials soda straw as a whistle. Hold pitch. ■ glue one end against the lower lip, 6. Tie the loose end of twine of ■ shallow saucer tilt the other end downward, each pot to the dowel or rod. ■ scissors blow gently. 7. Place the rod so that the bells ■ waxed paper 2. Encourage children to vary the hang free—between two chairs, ■ rubber bands pitch of the sound by cutting across a doorway, or from an small bits off the end of the outdoor structure. 1. Poke a hole in the center of one straw. The shorter the straw, the 8. Show the children how to gen- side of the cardboard tube. The higher the pitch. tly tap the pots with a mallet to hole should be about ¼ inch in play the bells. diameter. Avoid creasing the Panpipes Note: School-agers will enjoy cardboard. Panpipes are a set of whistles that constructing this bell wall them- 2. Cut waxed paper into 3-inch are played by blowing across the selves. Younger children will need squares. top, not into the horn. your close supervision and assis- 3. Invite children to decorate the tance. tubes in a way that allows them Here’s what you need: Variations: Make the bells with to identify their own instruments. ■ strips of corrugated cardboard aluminum cans and metal nuts or 4. Pour a shallow puddle of glue ■ scissors washers. Use an awl or nail and onto a saucer. Dip one end of ■ wide packing tape

© Texas Child Care quarterly / spring 2019 / VOLUME 42, NO. 4 / childcarequarterly.com ■ paper or plastic soda straws 4. Place the panpipe on a flat sur- the pitch by varying the place- ■ felt-tipped marker face. To graduate the length of ment of lips and tongue. ■ straight edge or ruler the individual straws, hold a straight edge about 1 inch from Here’s what you need: 1. Prepare for the activity by cut- the straw on the left and 5 inch- ■ clear plastic water bottles ting lengths of cardboard 6 es from the straw on the right. ■ craft knife inches long (across the corruga- Draw a line across all six ■ scissors tion) by 2 inches wide (parallel straws. ■ permanent, felt-tipped markers to the corrugation). 5. Cut each straw at a different ■ ¾-inch clear vinyl tubing 2. If the corrugation holes are length with the longest on the ■ plastic tape large enough, have the children right and the shortest on the push 6 straws through the left. 1. Prepare for the activity by cut- holes, evenly spaced apart, 6. Let the children personalize ting the vinyl tubing into 1-foot leaving about 1 inch of straw at their panpipes. lengths with a craft knife. the top of the pipe. 7. Show the children how to hold 2. Mark the bottle about 4 inches 3. If the corrugation holes are too the panpipe vertically and to from the top and cut. You’ll use small for the straws to slide blow across the tops of the the top, funnel shape to make through, let the children place straws. the bell of the bugle. six straws along the bumps. Use 3. Show the children how to con- wide packing tape to hold the Bugle nect the tubing to the bottle top. straws in place again with Show children photos of bugles, 4. Tape the tubing in place. about 1 inch of the straw the simplest brass instrument. It 5. Have the children personalize exposed at the top and 7 inches has no valves or other mechanism their horns with markers. at the bottom. to alter pitch; the player controls 6. Play the bugle by buzzing your

z lips into the mouthpiece. Make a t buzzing sound by smiling with your lips closed and blowing out air through vibrating lips. by susan gae oto

ph Drums Drums, cymbals, and other percus- sion instruments exist in cultures across the globe. Invite children to play these simple instruments to set and maintain rhythms for dancing and marching.

Pot drums and cymbal lids Introduce rhythm instruments to toddlers with recycled (or donated) cooking pots and lids. Show babies how to tap on pot bottoms and clap lids together.

Garbage can drum Make drums from mini metal garbage cans or large, industrial size food cans.

© Texas Child Care quarterly / spring 2019 / VOLUME 42, NO. 4 / childcarequarterly.com Here’s what you need: ing the plastic around the cir- two ends of the rope and pull ■ mini metal garbage can or No. cumference of the bowl. on the rope’s center to move the 10 food can 3. Turn the bowl bottom side up knots to the hole, securing the ■ permanent markers and run tape over the rubber neck strap at each end. Adjust ■ collage materials band to hold the plastic in place the length of the strap accord- ■ glue securely. The tighter the skin, ing to children’s sizes. ■ unsharpened pencils the higher the note. 6. Cut the dowel into 12-inch ■ yarn scraps 4. Invite children to tap the drum lengths for drum sticks. ■ scissors first with their fingers and then Variations: Change the sound with a mallet or drumstick. of the drum by changing the end 1. Invite children to decorate the Experiment tapping with the of the drum stick. Cork, a wooden cans with markers or collage eraser of a pencil, the unsharp- bead, sponge, fabric scraps, a rub- materials. ened end, or an end covered ber ball, and cotton balls will 2. Turn the cans bottom side up on with yarn, fabric, or a piece of muffle and lower the sound. the floor. Practice playing by sponge. tapping with fingers and hands. Frottoir 3. Make drum mallets by gluing Parade drum No Cajun band is complete with- yarn scraps over the eraser end Prepare for a parade with this big out a frottoir (pronounced FRO- of unsharpened pencils. Allow drum. Ask to have 5-gallon water twa) or washboard. It is often the glue to dry before using on cooler jugs donated for the purpose. used as a substitute for drums in the drums. a band. The frottoir hangs from Here’s what you need: the front of the body and is Drum with skin ■ 5-gallon jugs tapped or strummed with finger Simply, a drum has two parts—a ■ collage materials thimbles. sound box (a hollow container) ■ glue A metal washboard is a trea- and a skin (a tight cover for the ■ permanent markers sured antique but may still be container). The harder the sound ■ hand drill and ¾-inch drill bit available at specialty hardware box material, the greater the ■ heavy tape stores. As a substitute, use oven vibration and richer the sound. ■ ½-inch diameter cotton rope broiler trays or paint roller trays Timpani in an orchestra consist of ■ ½-inch diameter wooden dowel with ridged bottoms. a metal sound box and screws or ■ wood saw a pedal that tightens or loosens Here’s what you need: the skin to change the sound pro- 1. Decorate the jugs with markers ■ frottoir or substitute duced. or collage materials. ■ scissors 2. Turn the jug neck-side down ■ ½-inch diameter cotton rope Here’s what you need: and mark two spots 1 inch ■ wide packing tape ■ large metal bowl down from the flat bottom of ■ metal spoons ■ plastic bag the jug and across from each ■ scissors other. 1. Make shoulder straps for the ■ large rubber band 3. Use the hand drill to make frottoir by cutting cotton rope ■ tape holes on the two opposite sides into two 18-inch-long pieces. ■ unsharpened pencil of the jug. Attach the rope straps to the 4. Use about 30 inches of cotton washboard with tape. 1. Make a drum skin by cutting rope for the drum’s neck strap. Alternatively, lace the rope the plastic bag to cover the Push one end of the rope through slats in the broiler tray opening of the bowl with a through each hole. Shake the or the ladder grips on the paint 2-inch overhang. jug to free the two ends through tray. 2. Use the rubber band to hold the the neck. 2. Adjust the straps of the frottoir plastic in place, gently tighten- 5. Tie large double knots on the to hang loosely across the chest.

Resources for teachers Ardley, Neil. (1996). A Young Person’s Guide to Music. New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley. Connors, Abigail F. (2004). 101 Rhythm Instrument Activities for Young Children. Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House. Connors, Abigail F. (2017). Exploring the Science of Sounds: 100 Musical Activities for Young Children. Lewisville, NC: Gryphon House. Dunleavy, Deborah. (2001). Jumbo Book of Music. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press. n