Tag Archives: homemade fun

You Can Play the Spoons – Just Like On “Dog With A Blog”!

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Daria | Leave a comment

Although we don’t watch a lot of t.v., our family has a soft spot in our hearts for any program with adorable animals, especially cute talking animals. So it was no wonder that several of my readers mentioned that a recent episode of “Dog With A Blog” featured the teen named Tyler playing the musical spoons, a topic that we’ve shared several times on Tiny Tapping Toes. And he did a terrific job!

But, if you look closer, he was using two connected spoons, like the ones you see below. And that sure does make playing the spoons a lot easier. In fact, there’s a big behind-the-scenes look at Dog With A Blog tonight (Thursday, September 24, 2015) and we really hope they share some of their musical spoon outtakes!

Are you intrigued by the spoons? Here’s a quick run-down of tips for playing any kind of spoons you might find!

TWO CONNECTED SPOONS

Ok, this one is simple. You hold the spoon in one hand and tap either side on your knee and your opposite hand. Go back and forth until you create a beat! To get tricky, go back and forth between your hand and any other object, like your shoulder, someone else’s shoulder, the chair you’re sitting on, you get the picture, right?

In short, you’re making a beat by tapping the connected spoons against your hand on one other surface. With a bit of practice, you can make this sound amazing!

TWO UNCONNECTED SPOONS

This is the original way of playing the spoons and does take a bit of coordination. Check out our step-by-step post here and you’ll also find how to make that cool “trill” or “b-r-r-r-r-r!” noise with your spoons”.

http://www.tinytappingtoes.com/tag/how-to-play-the-spoons/

TAPPING SPOONS WITH TINY TOTS

Okay, the last two were rather tricky and required lots of motor skills to accomplish. You can also feel free to play the spoons with young children by using them like rhythm sticks. Tap them gently together to make a beat. Sit opposite your child and tap the spoons together, making a beat while singing a song or playing music. Have your child match your movements to make the beat, too!

It’s a simple rhythm and music game with items that everyone has around their house. And; yes, you can use plastic spoons as well!

WOODEN SPOONS IN RUSSIA

It’s probably not surprising that other cultures discovered these everyday items could be used for as musical fun.Russian musical spoons, known as lozhki (Ло́жки), are the beautifully carved and decorated wooden spoons famous in that region of the world.

If you’d like to check out that form of musical spoons including some truly sensational hand (and foot) work, check out this post and video from Making Multicultural Music, below.

SPOONING FOR VIDEOS!

Want to see musical spoons in action? Here’s one American spoon video and one that features a Russian spoon expert.

Musical Spoons – American Style http://multikidsmusicvids.com/?p=1519

Russian Musical Spoons https://makingmulticulturalmusic.wordpress.com/tag/russian-spoons/

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Posted in Early Learning With Music, Family Fun, First Instruments, Simple Instruments

Tagged (Ло́жки), dog with a blog plays spoons, Dog With a Blog special program, Easiest Instruments For Children, Easy Instruments kids, family fun, homemade fun, how to play the spoons, kids music, Music for children, music for toddlers, musical spoons, playing the spoons, spoons, spoons as percussion, toddlers and music, Tyler james, tyler james dog with a blog, tyler james plays spoons, unusual percussion, world music with daria, young children and music

It’s So Simple To Play The Spoons!

Posted on June 4, 2013 by admin | Leave a comment

Would you like to dazzle your young children or quiet a classroom of kids? Or be the star of the next long car or bus ride? Then take a few minutes to master the art of the musical spoons and you’ll soon be playing like a professional percussionist!

All you need for developing this homegrown skill are two spoons and a bit of patience and practice.

Start With the Spoons

First, find two spoons of equal size and shape. Although seasoned players can make any two spoons work, it’s best to learn with matching spoons. Any spoons will work; even plastic ones, however the best sounds seems to come from the heavier metal ones so find a few pairs and see what sounds best to you.

Holding The Spoons!

The real trick to playing the spoons is getting the right grip.

Take a look at this picture. Put the end of one spoon between your thumb and pointer finger. Put the end of the other spoon between your pointer and middle finger. Hold them all the way down near the end of the spoons grasping tightly enough not to drop them but loose enough so that they can still click together.

If you’re right handed – you’ll probably do better with your right hand and vice versa for lefties!

Rat-a-tat-a-tat

Take your spoons and see if you can make them click together. Tap them between your knee and your other hand (held above the spoons), moving the spoons – not your knee or your “non-spoon hand”. Tap back and forth until you get a nice steady rhythm.

Try it slow. Try it fast. Try it along with your favorite song. Then you’ll be ready to move on to the fancy stuff!

Drum Roll, Please!

Once playing a simple beat isn’t enough, try this move that sounds a bit like a drum roll! Hold your spoons in your dominant hand and place your other hand, palm up with fingers spread. Hold the fingers of your “non-spoon hand” as stiffly as you can.

Then, brush the spoons over your upturned hand allowing them to clink once on each finger, like a ball falling down stairs and tapping each one along it’s way. Practice this until you can do this smoothly and can add it to any song effortlessly while playing.

Rock Out To Your Favorite Songs

The best way to get good at playing the spoons is by practicing. Play along while you sing. Play along while your child sings. Play along to your favorite recorded music or a family member who can play an instrument. Although this is a simple instrument, it can really add a lot to a front porch jam or an impromptu music party!

And if all else fails, you can get a pair of connected spoons, just like these! Happy tapping!

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Posted in Classroom Music, Early Learning With Music, Family Fun, First Instruments, Homeschool Musical Fun, Simple Instruments, Special Needs/Kids of All Abilities

Tagged Daria, Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Easiest Instruments For Children, Easy Instruments kids, family fun, homemade fun, how to play the spoons, kids music, Music for children, music for toddlers, musical spoons, playing the spoons, spoons, spoons as percussion, toddlers and music, unusual percussion, world music with daria, young children and music

Make A Whistle – From A Blade Of Grass!

Posted on June 2, 2013 by admin | Leave a comment

Even the simplest things can be a part of creative, everyday musical fun with your child!

Have you ever shown your kids how to make a simple blade of grass into a whistle that sounds like a duck call? If this wasn’t one of your childhood games, don’t worry. It’s easy to learn and a great way to share creative play with your child.

What Do You Need?

Only three things! A blade of grass, preferably a longer thin one, two thumbs and a bit of patience. And as you try this activity, you might want to notice that you’re actually making a simple version of the type of reed found in woodwind instruments such as saxophones, clarinets and oboes.

How To Do It!

Although this seems easy, it does take some time to get the right sound, so don’t give up if it doesn’t work the first few times! Place your two thumbs together, leaving space between them like you see in the above picture.

Next choose a long, thin piece of grass, and stretch it between your thumbs, making it as tight as you can. The grass should look as if it is dividing the space between your thumbs.

Then, put your mouth up to your thumbs and blow gently. A loud, squawking sound should emerge that sounds like a duck. If not, adjust the grass, try another blade of grass or change your mouth position until you get the whistling sound.

With a bit of practice, you can be a “duck call” pro in no time! Here’s what it might sound like: