MAKING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
 

MAKING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Making musical instruments is fun and can also help you understand how sound moves and changes. Here are some ideas for making some simple instruments.

Make Your Own Oboe
What you will need: 1 piece of 3 by 10 inch (7.5 by 25cm) lightweight poster board, 1 12-inch candle (30 cm – also called a taper candle), Masking tape, Scissors, Ruler, Drinking straw, a walnut size piece of modeling clay

What to do:

  1. Wrap the poster board lengthwise around the candle. Tighten the poster board by twisting it around the candle so that the poster tapers like the candle.
  2. Tape the poster board at its seams. Slide the candle out of the tube.
  3. Cut a 3-inch (7.5 cm) piece from the straw. Flatten one end and cut it into a point.
  4. Insert the uncut end of the straw 1 inch (2.5 cm) into the narrow end of the poster board tube. Cover the opening at this end with the clay. Smooth the clay around the opening until it is totally covered.
  5. Snip two small holes in the tube 4 inches (10 cm) and 6 inches (15 cm) from the straw.
  6. To play put the straw in your mouth and press your lips together. Blow to get a buzzing sound. Cover different holes with your fingers to play a tune.

Shower Hose French Horn
What you will need: Scissors, Ruler, Masking tape, hand-held shower hose with faucet attachment (find it in a hardware store), 1 pint (500 ml) funnel

What to do:

  1. Cut a 40 inch (100 cm) length of the hose. This will include the faucet attachment. Cut off the shower head.
  2. Slide the funnel over the end of the hose opposite the faucet attachment.
  3. Loop the hose into a circle, pulling the faucet attachment and funnel so that they point up.
  4. Tape the circle together about 6 inches (15cm) from the faucet attachment. Tape again, 6 inches (15 cm) from the funnel.
  5. Snip a small hole in the inner section of hose just above the tape nearest the faucet attachment.
  6. To play, hold the horn by the two taped areas. Hold the tape under the funnel with your left hand, and the tape under the faucet 6. attachment with your right hand. Cover the finger hole with your index finger, then blow into the faucet attachment, letting your lips vibrate. Lift your finger off the hole for a different sound.

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