How to make drums
SMA tins make perfect drums. The metal end can be covered with a circle of felt to soften the sound. The tin can be decorated with paper stickers and coloured electric tape around the edges.
Drums can also be made from any sturdy box, can or plastic tub. For example washing powder boxes, shoe boxes, coffee/hot chocolate cans, ice cream tubs all make great drums. You can decorate the drums with any scraps of paper/ material you have to hand. Or just cover them in stickers.
Drums are great for exploring rhythm, as an aid to creativity and self expression and as a means of promoting engagement.
How to make shakers
Step 1. You will need a container with a lid. Almost any will do as long as it is non-breakable.
Step 2. Fill the with rice or lentils for a lighter sounding shaker, corn or chick peas for something a bit louder. You can also add a small amount of decorative items.
Step 3. Secure the lid with sticky tape. We like to use electrical masking tape as it can be colourful and is tough, which helps prolong life of the shaker.
Step 4. Decorate the shaker with stickers, paints and tape. You can decorate shakers to fit with a specific theme or just to capture elements of a favourite song, rhyme or story.
How to make rhythm sticks
Step 1: Using dowel from any timber merchant and saw it into 7” lengths, and sand it down so that it is ready for painting and varnishing
Step 2: Children can help with the painting but the varnishing is sticky and messy and should be done by an adult to ensure complete coverage. All paint and varnish must be non-toxic and child friendly.
Tip: By painting them in different colours and using different patterns, we also use our sticks to support sequencing and pattern recognition.
