Thorndyke’s Portal to Making Your Own Instrument

Hi Kids, 

Did you know that everyone is a musician? Yes, even you! Because everyone can play music. And I don’t only mean the music of the deep base of a bear snoring...  although that is music to my ears. I mean that everyone can make melody or rhythm and become a one-man (or one-bear) band. You can even bring a few of your friends together to make a musical group. I wonder what you would name your band? 

There are four categories of instruments.  

1. There are instruments we bang on.
2. Instruments with strings that vibrate.
3. Instruments you blow into.
4. Instruments that are electronic. 

Have you seen any of these before? Can you think of examples of each category? 

Sometimes it’s fun to make your own instruments. One of my favorite instruments is the drum. People make drums all over the world. They are unique to the region they come from because cultures have their own resources and traditions. But they all have one thing in common—when you hit the top of the drum, it vibrates and makes a sound.

According to the Science of Sound website, “Sound is a type of energy created when something vibrates. These vibrations cause the particles in the surrounding medium—like air, water, or solid objects—to move in waves. These waves then travel to our ears, where they are interpreted by our brains as sound”. 

Are you ready to make your own drum?  

You only need a balloon, scissors, a can or cylinder of some sort, a pencil with an eraser and maybe some paints or markers. That’s it! 

Directions

1. Clean whatever cylinder you are using for the bowl of your drum. 
2. Cut off the end of the balloon.  
3. Stretch the balloon over the cylinder to make the head of the drum. 
4. Decorate your drum with paint or markers. 
5. Bang the balloon with the eraser of your pencil. This is your drum mallet. 

I wonder if you can get different sounds by using different shapes or drum bowls of different sizes? 

Looking forward to jamming with you! 

Bear hugs, 

Thorndyke