Children naturally love music. For hundreds of years we have been teaching them about song and movement. Once they're a little older you may need to invest in a "real" instrument but why not make some for now? Here are some great ways to get started. Once you've got your instruments, have some fun by forming a marching band, having a parade, performing for neighborhood kids, or ever make a music video!

Tappin' the Tupperware

Remember that makeshift Tupperware drum set you had as a kid? Bring that same joy back to your own children by using simple items from around the house.

What you need (suggestions):

• Empty coffee and vegetable cans
• Empty soda or vinegar bottles
• Dry beans
• Plastic containers

What you do:

• Empty coffee and vegetable cans make fun noises when tapped with a metal spoon and plastic containers are perfect for drums.
• Line up empty soda or vinegar bottles and blow across the top of each bottle to create your own flute.
• Toss some coins or dry beans into an empty tin can, cover with a washcloth secured by a rubber band, and shake for fun maracas.
• Gently tapping the sides of empty glass jars or bottles makes a pretty sound, but use caution with smaller children.
• Set up a music band, younger children with plastic containers and older ones with jars or bottles. Have a fun performance in your living room and cheer on the band!

Tambourine

What you need:

• 2 paper plates
• stapler or glue
• hole punch
• string
• jingle bells
• crayons

What you do: Decorate the back side of both paper plates first. Next, staple or glue the two paper plates together, facing each other. Using a hole punch, make holes around the plates and tie jingle bells to the holes with string. Shake or tap to play.

Note: Heavy duty paper or Styrofoam plates may be more durable for this craft.

Safety note: If using a stapler, an adult should attach the plates. When finished be sure to cover the staples with scotch tape.

Drum

What you need:

• empty oatmeal container
• yarn
• pen
• 2 pencils
• 2 spools of thread
• construction paper
• crayons

What you do: Before beginning, you can decorate the oatmeal box with construction paper and/or crayons for a colorful effect. Felt works nicely as well since it adheres quickly.

Place the cover on the container. Use a pen to make a hole in the center of the cover and in the center of the bottom of the container. Through these holes, pull and tie a piece of yarn long enough to hang from the child's neck to their waist.

For the drumsticks, place the spools at the ends of the pencils, secure with glue if necessary. Beat to play.

Horn

What you need:

• paper towel roll
• waxed paper
• rubber band
• pen

What you do: Decorate the paper towel roll with construction paper or paint. Cover one end of the paper towel roll with waxed paper and secure it with a rubber band. Punch a row of holes along one side of the roll with the tip of a pen. To play, sing a tune into the open end of the horn.

Guitar

What you need:

• empty shoe box
• rubber bands
• ruler or stick

What you do: Remove the cover from the box. Stretch the rubber bands around the box. Attach the ruler or stick to the back of the box on one end to act as the arm of the guitar. To play, strum or pluck the rubber bands.

Hand Bells

What you need:

• 2 paper towel rolls
• hole punch
• 4 jingle bells
• string or yarn

What you do: Punch a hole in each end of the paper towel rolls. Tie two jingle bells to each side of the rolls by running string or yarn through the holes and carefully tying off. Shake to play.

Have fun and let creativity and imagination run wild! Decorating these instruments is half the fun, so the more supplies you have on hand the better. When the children are finished constructing their instruments, be sure to take photographs to include in their memory books.

Amanda Formaro is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She and her husband live in sunny Nevada with a houseful of kids, dogs and cats. They enjoy traveling in the RV, swimming, and riding their four wheelers.