Tag Archives: easy instruments

Irish Music For Kids!

St. Patrick’s Day is on the way!

Holidays are a wonderful time to explore both music and world cultures with your young child. Here’s a super-easy kids drum craft for St. Patrick’s Day – a drum that originally was a farm sieve for separating grain!  A kid’s size bodhran (pronounced bow-ran) can be easily made from a pie tin or a metal take-out container. And definitely make the “tipper”, too. It’s a special kind of drum beater that is tapped back and forth and it great for teaching motor skills to kids!  Step-by-step directions can be found in the tutorial below from the TPT website.

What do the classic Irish symbols mean? Naturally, you’ll recognize shamrocks as symbols of Celtic Knot USEgood luck. The Celtic Cross often represents religion and spirituality. A harp is often pictured because it is the national instrument of Ireland and the Claddagh (two hands joined by a crowned heart) is a beautiful symbol that represents the bonds of friendship, love and loyalty.

Wondering what a bodhran looks or sounds like? Watch these three young boys showing off their formidable drumming and Irish dancing skills. Plus, feel free to check out our round-up of Irish music-related crafts and posts for kids, listed below.

Links and Resources

MYO Bodhran and Tipper Tutorial: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Irish-Drum-Make-and-Play-Your-Own-Bodhran-and-Tipper-2410657

Whistle a Merry Tune – With A Tin Whistle http://www.tinytappingtoes.com/early-learning-with-music/whistle-a-merry-tune-with-a-tin-whistle/

Morris Dancing Bells For Kids
http://www.tinytappingtoes.com/early-learning-with-music/easy-morris-dancing-bells-for-children/

Easy Introduction to 10 Irish Instruments
https://makingmulticulturalmusic.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/an-easy-introduction-to-irish-instruments/

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Make A Little Drum Beater For A Big Drum!

kids playing pueblo drumNovember is Native American Heritage month and it’s a great time to step right up and play a big drum!

Whether it’s a pow-wow drum, a pueblo drum (as seen here) or another drum you have, you’ll need a special stick to play that drum. And here’s how you can make an easy version, perfect for small hands with big hearts!

Pencil Mini-Drum Beaters -Materials Needed

One pencil per child

Colorful electrical or washi tape

Pipe cleaners (optional)

Feathers (optional)

pencil drum beatersStart with colorful (unsharpened) pencils. Wrap the pencil side with the electrical or washi tape and add feathers with pipe cleaners if desired.

These smaller beaters are the perfect size for young children to hold and will make it easier for them to tap or play a drum.

Playing Any Drum

Use your drum beater to play a frameless pow-wow drum (instructions below) or tap out a beat on any drum you might have around the classroom or house.

Don’t have a drum handy? No problem, I suggest you find a round container, like a sturdy laundry hamper or large plastic container and improvise a drum. Overturned pots and pans will work as well, but can be really loud and possibly have an adverse effect on young children’s hearing.

Playing A Pow-Wow Drum

pencil beater on drumTo play a Native American pow-wow drum, each drummer will need one beater.  The goal is to play in unison, with everyone’s beater hitting the drum head at the same time.  This can be a wonderful way to teach cooperation and listening skills as the sound of the drum is amazing and powerful when everyone strikes together!

Want to hear a real pow-wow drum and a pow-wow drum song.  Check out the Starfeather Group who you can hear in the links below.

Can you play along to those powerful songs?

Links and Resources

pow wow drumHear a Pow-wow Drum  http://www.dariamusic.com/drum.php

Make a (Frameless) Pow-Wow Drum  http://www.dariamusic.com/make_Drum.php

Color a Pow-wow Drum – Printable and Online http://www.dariamusic.com/drum.php

You are welcome At A Native American Pow-Wow (Post on Pow-Wow Etiquette) http://multiculturalkidblogs.com/2014/11/02/native-american-pow-wow/

Make A Native American Turtle Rattle From Recycled Materials https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Native-American-Turtle-Shell-Rattle-Craft-Using-Recycled-Materials-600715

Make Your Own Pu’ili – Hawaiian Rhythm Sticks

Rhythm sticks are great additions to almost any type of musical play with children.  Found all around the world, most rhythm sticks are about 6 to 8” long and made of solid wood.  Hawaiian rhythm sticks, however, take a really unique puili sticks on a leafapproach to this age-old instrument.  Called pu’ili; they are made from longer sticks of bamboo, solid on one end and slit on the other to make a rattling noise when struck together.  And they are tapped in many different ways, often as part of the hula tradition so making and playing your own pu’ili sticks can be a fun way to enjoy movement and music at the same time.

Want to see how they are played as part of the Hawaiian tradition?  Watch this short video and you will be amazed at the coordination of the dancers and the many different ways two sticks can be used to create rhythm and become part of the graceful moves in this dance.

 

Crafty Pu’ili Sticks

Actual pu’ili sticks are made from lengths of bamboo, generally around 12 – 18” long.  They are left solid at one end and then cut into numerous slats on the other end.  Our craft version uses the cardboard roll from paper towels and adds a few elements for decoration and durability.  Supplies you need are:

Screen shot 2014-02-01 at 12.38.21 PM2 cardboard tubes from paper towels

Scissors

(Optional)  Electrical or duct tape

Stickers, markers or other materials for decoration

This is such an easy craft.  Simply cut slits in one side of the cardboard rolls and use the electrical tape or duct tape to wrap the other (uncut) end.  This will indicate which side to hold and help the sticks last longer.

Although it’s not traditional, you can decorate the cut side, using markers or stickers, paint, glitter and glue or whatever inspires your imagination.  Once you’re done – it’s time to play!

One quick note here, since they are made of cardboard, these pu’ili sticks may not last a long time.  If you enjoy this musical craft, it may be a good idea to save these paper towel rolls and make several pairs.

Playing Your Pu’ili

There are lots of basic moves for playing these rhythm sticks that any child or adult can master right away.  Try some of these easy suggestions:

Hold one stick in your right hand in front of you. Tap with the left stick.

Hold one stick in your left hand in front of you. Tap with the right stick.

Hold one stick in your right hand by your right shoulder. Tap with the left stick.

Hold one stick in your left hand by your left shoulder. Tap with the right stick.

Screen shot 2014-02-01 at 12.38.34 PMTap the two wrapped ends together in front of you.

(If seated at a desk or table) Tap the two wrapped ends on the desk or table in front of you.

(If seated on the ground) Tap the two wrapped ends on the ground in front of you.

Screen shot 2014-02-02 at 8.33.56 AMIf standing, tap both sticks on the ground by your right toe.

If standing, tap both sticks on the ground by your left toe.

Mix and match these moves.

Mix and match these moves in time with Hawaiian music.

Mix and match these moves in time with any of your favorite types of music.

Rhythm Games

Once you’ve mastered the basic moves, you can also play with an adult, partner, friend or even a group.  In the video above, you probably noticed how the dancers tapped each other’s sticks.  You can try something similar.  If you sit across from a partner, pick out what moves you want to do (such as – let’s tap right, then left sticks in the middle) and give them a try.   Make up your own patterns with or without music.

If you’re seated in a circle with a group, you can try patterns such as this one:

Everyone taps both wrapped ends on the ground twice, then taps both sticks together in front of themselves.

Everyone taps both wrapped ends on the ground twice, then reaches out to tap the sticks of their neighbors, both right and left.

Repeat the pattern while keeping a beat.  Try it without music, while singing or while playing recorded music.

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Photograph of pu’ili sticks on a tropical leaf, used by permission from NaKani O Hula Farms.  Their farm grows and creates many traditional Hawaiian instruments and crafts.  Find them at:

http://www.nakaniohula.com/about-us/

 

Can You Kazoo?

If you can hum softly – you can play a kazoo.

It’s a great first instrument because it easily builds confidence in musical ability while allowing a child or adult to recognize melodies and experiment with playing them.  And a truly outrageous kazoo solo can send any child into a fit of giggles.  It’s just plain fun!

How do you play a kazoo?  Place your mouth to the opening and hum quietly.  Avoid humming loudly or blowing into the mouthpiece, neither will give you that classic kazoo sound.

Take a bit of time to practice.  It’s incredibly versatile and fun once you get the hang of just how to do it.  Then what?

Here are some ideas, games and activities you can do with a kazoo!

Play Along With Your Favorite Music

Both parent and child can sound like a rock star when they play along with favorite songs and take their own solos or rock out on the melody!

Name That Tune

Parent or child play a melody on their kazoo and the other must guess what the name of the song is.

Stump The Band!

Parent or child name a song and the other must play it or lose a point/turn.

Call and Response Kazoo

Parent or child play a series of notes or a short song and the other must play it back exactly.  It’s best to start with simple short musical phrases and get more complicated as the game goes on.

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Did You Know?

There is a National Kazoo Day.  You can find out more about it here:

http://www.nationalkazooday.com/index.html

Tips from Serious Kazoo Players

WikiHow has a nice post with more tips for playing kazoos with kids.  You can check it out here:

http://www.wikihow.com/Play-the-Kazoo