A musical instrument can be anything that producers a sound, for examples by hitting, blowing, sucking, rubbing or shaking. If children are exposed to music they will instinctively play music using any items they come across, such as hitting a tin with a stick, or blowing into an empty glass bottle. Experimenting with a number of different items teaches children about sound, encourages listening skills and helps develop hand and eye coordination.
Some ideas you may like to try:
- Bells for babies – sew them into a piece of cotton fabric or onto ribbons, or place inside tins or boxes for rolling and shaking
- Shakers – place seeds, sand or small stones inside plastic containers (seal securely and check often)
- Hooters – cover cardboard cylinder at one end with paper with a whole poked through (children can blow through the other end)
- Drums – use large empty tins, saucepan lids
- Rhythm sticks – find a few wooden or plastic sticks
You can take the children for a walk outside and collect any natural objects that can be used to make sounds (such as branches, leaves, smooth stones etc)