DIY Rattles, Shakers, and Maracas

Whatever you want to call them, making instruments that are shaken to produce sound is a time-honored activity that spans all age groups. Since my school recently had a music-themed week, I've collected some maraca-making ideas to help you shake things up in your classroom. (Sorry.) You’ll find instructions for these kinds of instruments all over the web and in countless books. Here’s a roundup of techniques for creating shaker instruments ranging from preschool-simple up to adult-professional.

A shaker or rattle type instrument is typically (not always) a hollow container in which small objects are placed. Sound is produced, of course, when the instrument is shaken. To make these kinds of instruments you need three basic supplies: small objects to make the sound, something hollow to put them in, and a way to seal it up. A handle can also be added.


The Body of the Shaker

Basically, almost anything hollow and closeable can be used. It all depends on how fancy you want to get and the ages of the people involved.

Cardboard tubes sealed with strong paper on each end, or a paper cup sealed at the top
Empty plastic water bottles
Plastic Easter eggs
Two paper plates
Film canisters
Empty pill bottles (wash first and remove labels)
Metal cans - coffee, juice, tea
Metal boxes - Altoid tins, for example
Papier mache (similar to making a pinata - just use something smaller for the forms, like inflated water balloons)

You can also use dried gourds, available at craft stores in the fall. Many of these come with natural handles and seeds inside, so it may seem all they need is a paint job. Wrong. Dried gourds have dusty mold both inside and outside. Before you use them with kids, an adult should put on a dust mask, take them outside, and give them a light sanding. Then rinse them off. You can drill holes in them so objects can be inserted - just make the holes fairly small and don't let the kids sniff them. Although I have asthma and have never had a problem with gourds, I would avoid using them as a project material with a child who suffers from any respiratory condition.

For a really long-term project, you could dry your own gourds. This one's probably better as a homeschool activity or for a teenager. Just buy some nice decorative gourds at the supermarket and put them someplace cool and dry. For a year. Don't let them touch each other. Turn them over once every few days until they harden, and then let them dry until you hear the seeds rattle. Buy extras, because some of them will rot or otherwise be unsatisfactory.

For a really really long-term project, grow your own gourds. I haven't tried this, mostly because I have a black thumb. I can't even keep a plastic plant alive. Anyway.


Inside the Shaker

You'll want to experiment (or better, let the kids experiment) with different objects and amounts to get just the "right" sound. Also, try combining some of these items!

Unpopped popcorn
Seeds
Rice, beans
Pasta
Dry cereal
Ball bearings, BB's
Nuts, bolts, screws
Sand, pebbles, gravel
Pennies
Shells
Buttons
Beads
Jingle bells


Handles

Naturally, handle materials will depend on the design of the shaker. In most cases no handle is needed at all. It's usually unnecessary and makes the instrument more likely to break. Still, if you'd like one, consider dowels, tongue depressors, pieces of fallen branches, paper towel tubes, etc.


Sealing the Shaker

Once everything's assembled, you'll need to seal the shaker in some way. How you do this will depend on what you used for the body. For simple instruments, like those made with paper plates, a stapler works fine. Egg shakers should be sealed with strong glue - and I also tape them both ways with colored masking tape ever since the Rice Incident of 2006 (don't ask). A small hole in a gourd can be covered with strong tape or filled with hot glue. Another good option is Gorilla Glue, which has an awesome new quick-setting version.

Shakers in lidded containers may not seem to need sealing, but if you're working with small children it's better to be safe than sorry.


Decorating & Extras

Use any decorating method you like to jazz up your shakers. Young children are fine with stickers or paint. Older kids might like more challenging methods, like decoupage or wood burning (works great on gourds - just wear a mask).

Another fun technique is to add sound-making items to the outside of the shaker. You can do this in addition to what's already inside, or you can have the sound come exclusively from this source. An example of the latter would be the shakere, a gourd instrument with beads or shells strung around the outside.


Variations

Rain sticks: Covered in a separate, future post, which will be extremely cool and have a photo tutorial, I promise! :)

Jingle sticks: Nail bottle caps onto dowels and decorate with paint or colored tape. You could also use wire to attach jingle bells to the dowel, and then tape to secure the wire.

Easy tambourine: Get some plastic embroidery hoops (look in the sewing section), various sizes of jingle bells, and some thin but strong wire. Separate the hoops - each hoop yields two instruments - and tie a 3' length of wire around one of them. Thread on a bell. Bring it down to the hoop, bend down the remaining wire, and twist a couple of times. Wrap the wire around the hoop a few times and add another bell. Continue until you go about 3/4 around the hoop, and then tie off the wire. These make a surprisingly nice sound when shaken or tapped against the palm. The hoops and bells come in lots of different sizes and are super cheap, so you can have lots of variety.

Bell wristlets: All you do here is fasten a string of bells around the child's wrist(s) and/or ankle(s). In a pinch just use yarn or plastic lacing. For longer-lasting instruments, use those stretchy woven ponytail ties and sew a few bells on with strong thread. Or get really elaborate and use felt strips with velcro or snap closures. You could also use cloth headbands for a head-shaking instrument! There's a lot of potential here for music and movement activities. You could even have a color-coded set for teaching left/right... Oh, the ideas I get...

Sound discrimination center: The object of this game is to listen and match eggs based on the sounds they make when shaken. Use 6 pairs of plastic Easter eggs with 6 different fillers. Use pairs of colors to make the game easier. For example, fill two blue eggs with pebbles, two green eggs with fine sand, two yellow ones with rice, and so on. Seal with hot glue and/or colored masking tape; store in a plastic egg carton. Voila - for practically nothing, compared to the wooden ones in that expensive catalog. You know the one.


For More Information


23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi !.
You re, I guess , probably very interested to know how one can collect a huge starting capital .
There is no need to invest much at first. You may begin earning with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.

AimTrust is what you thought of all the time
The firm represents an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.

It is based in Panama with affiliates around the world.
Do you want to become really rich in short time?
That`s your chance That`s what you wish in the long run!

I`m happy and lucky, I started to get income with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to choose a proper companion utilizes your savings in a right way - that`s AimTrust!.
I earn US$2,000 per day, and my first deposit was 1 grand only!
It`s easy to get involved , just click this link http://cizowamu.digitalzones.com/atutyfe.html
and lucky you`re! Let`s take our chance together to get rid of nastiness of the life

Anonymous said...

Hi !.
might , probably curious to know how one can make real money .
There is no initial capital needed You may start to get income with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.

AimTrust is what you need
The company incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.

It is based in Panama with structures everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus.
Do you want to become an affluent person?
That`s your chance That`s what you really need!

I`m happy and lucky, I began to get real money with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to choose a proper partner utilizes your money in a right way - that`s the AimTrust!.
I take now up to 2G every day, and what I started with was a funny sum of 500 bucks!
It`s easy to join , just click this link http://edivehise.100megsfree5.com/pavepyl.html
and go! Let`s take this option together to get rid of nastiness of the life

Anonymous said...

Good day !.
You re, I guess , perhaps very interested to know how one can make real money .
There is no initial capital needed You may begin to receive yields with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.

AimTrust is what you haven`t ever dreamt of such a chance to become rich
The firm incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.

Its head office is in Panama with offices around the world.
Do you want to become really rich in short time?
That`s your choice That`s what you desire!

I`m happy and lucky, I began to get real money with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to choose a correct partner who uses your money in a right way - that`s the AimTrust!.
I make 2G daily, and my first investment was 500 dollars only!
It`s easy to start , just click this link http://ufyhicok.greatnow.com/unekywi.html
and lucky you`re! Let`s take this option together to get rid of nastiness of the life

Anonymous said...

objetive prospect microbia atag embracing logo root fueufyfkr precedents continuing overall
masimundus semikonecolori

Anonymous said...

Good day, sun shines!
There have were times of troubles when I didn't know about opportunities of getting high yields on investments. I was a dump and downright pessimistic person.
I have never imagined that there weren't any need in large initial investment.
Now, I'm happy and lucky , I started to get real income.
It gets down to choose a proper partner who uses your money in a right way - that is incorporate it in real business, and shares the income with me.

You can get interested, if there are such firms? I have to answer the truth, YES, there are. Please get to know about one of them:
[url=http://theblogmoney.com] Online investment blog[/url]

Anonymous said...

Good day!

For sure you didn’t here about me yet,
my name is Nikolas.
Generally I’m a venturesome gambler. all my life I’m carried away by online-casino and poker.
Not long time ago I started my own blog, where I describe my virtual adventures.
Probably, it will be interesting for you to find out my particular opinion on famous gambling projects.
Please visit my blog. http://allbestcasino.com I’ll be interested on your opinion..

Anonymous said...

Kostenlose Partnersuche und Partnerbörse ab 30. Chatte, Date, Flirte mit suessen Singles oder einfach nett plaudern!

[url=http://www.time4love.ch] [img]http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/55/l_b681b1039edd4bb19d42063f38fb69a1.jpg[/img]

friendscout24
be2
sie sucht ihn
partnervermittlung

[/url]

Anonymous said...

hi every person,

I identified craftyteacher.blogspot.com after previous months and I'm very excited much to commence participating. I are basically lurking for the last month but figured I would be joining and sign up.

I am from Spain so please forgave my speaking english[url=http://behindthescenesri.info/].[/url][url=http://wrbehindthescenes.info/].[/url][url=http://thehottesttopicspt.info/forum].[/url]

Film Cans said...

Hello,
Nice blog i like it
Since the advent of the moving picture, America has surely had a fascination with Hollywood and movie stars.

Anonymous said...

Hі theгe everyone, it's my first pay a visit at this web site, and post is genuinely fruitful in favor of me, keep up posting these types of articles or reviews.

My site - london Massage Therapy
My web site - sports massage treatment

Anonymous said...

This is very interesting, You're a very skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I've shared your website in my social networks!


Also visit my homepage relevant Resource Site

Anonymous said...

What's up, just wanted to say, I loved this post. It was practical. Keep on posting!

My webpage; home Equity home Loans

Anonymous said...

I have to thank you for the efforts you've put in writing this site. I'm
hoping to check out the same high-grade blog posts by you in the
future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my very own site
now ;)

my webpage - Visit the next site

Anonymous said...

Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found
that it is really informative. I'm going to watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

Feel free to surf to my site - Going in [url=http://www.padresdefamilia.net]http://www.padresdefamilia.net
my page > just click the up coming internet site

Anonymous said...

Greetings! Verу usеful advice ωithin this artiсle!
Іt іs the little changеѕ which
will make thе bіggeѕt chаngeѕ.
Mаny thanks for sharing!

mу website :: AmericasCardRoom Offer
Also see my web site :: auraclassic.Com

Anonymous said...

I've learn several excellent stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to make any such excellent informative site.

My web blog ... Full Write-up
Also see my web page - beiträge krankenversicherung vergleich

Anonymous said...

You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find
this matter to be actually something which I think I would never
understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me.
I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!


Feel free to surf to my web blog: coleman auto insurance

Anonymous said...

It's wonderful that you are getting thoughts from this article as well as from our argument made here.

Review my webpage: 1

Anonymous said...

I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme.
Did you make this website yourself or did
you hire someone to do it for you? Plz answer back as I'm looking to design my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. appreciate it

Feel free to surf to my blog post :: wechsel pr Aktuell Medlemsstatus: Inloggad Senaste 10 kommentarerna av EdisonLidd: Senaste 10 bidragen skickade av EdisonLidd:
My website :: course of construction insurance

Anonymous said...

Me and ozzy fucked harder, trying to show to our god!
FUCK YES!' just before cumming inside my warm pussy. were still fucking

My website :: hcg injections

Anonymous said...

You have made some good points there. I checked
on the net for additional information about the issue and found most people will
go along with your views on this web site.

Feel free to visit my webpage - Krankenversicherungen vergleiche

Anonymous said...

Small amounts of money borrowed is going to be enough to protect one. Accommodation alliance ability program too in case you accept added in loans forth with your education loan. If you several thousand dollars in the bank a good idea to put diminished amount of fee a cost that stages with the people who have a bad credit score record. online payday loans This type of unsecured credit card loan will likely be just Thirty day period more brought about the easiest way to register online.

Anonymous said...

No security: contrary to most bad credit loans, one is not nesessary to offer protection to get the money on these loans and you dress in! Every advantageous from this personal loans provided to businesses with speedy approach. Finally We inquired about why this cost was so great. instant pay day loan First, it is important to seriously put out a lot of feelers!