When people talk about a musical instrument belonging to a 'family" of instruments, what do they mean? And which instruments belong in those different families? Read on for the answers to these questions.
DIY Wood Block- Decorate Your Own Kit from Baker Ross
Making a woodblock with my 4 year old using DIY Baker Ross Mini Wooden Block kit. A fun way to spend a rainy afternoon, spending family time together.
Interesting facts about the piano you should know
How much do you really know about the piano? Here are some fun and interesting facts about this family favourite musical instrument.
Baker Ross DIY Castanets Kit
Reviewing a DIY castanets kit from Baker Ross, and demonstrating how to make your own castanets.
DIY Bottle Top Wind Chime
How to make a wind chime for the garden with just metal bottle tops, fishing thread and a dream catcher hoop.
Baker Ross DIY Tambourine Kit
Reviewing a fun activity, making DIY tambourine using a kit from Baker Ross.
Spotlight on Rainsticks
This blog post puts a contemporary and child friendly version of a traditional instrument in the spotlight - rainsticks.
Spotlight on Handbells
For this month’s spotlight on a musical instrument, I am looking at handbells - tuned percussion instruments that your children will just love to play, if only because they can be played VERY loud!
DIY Guiro
Are you looking for something easy to make for your children to play with over the holidays? How about trying out a homemade musical instrument. This percussion instrument is probably one of the easiest instruments to "make" and involves gathering a few items you already have at home. Hours of wholesome musical fun awaits. Or at least 15 minutes.
Call And Response Games To Play With Your Children
Playing music games is a great way to pass some time at home, and with the educational benefits of call and response rhythm games. A fun way to teach your child turn taking.
Spotlight on Sleigh Bells / Jingle Bells
A post shining a spotlight on a festive favourite instrument- sleigh bells. Make music with your children to get you into a festive mood with sleigh bells.
Learning to Listen to Music: What Does This Music Make You Think Of?
Introducing a new series of blog posts: children’s (my children’s) responses to music. Imaginative responses to music
Spotlight on Mini Tambourines
Mini tambourines are a good instrument choice for smaller children. They are easier for small children to hold onto, and therefore play independently; and for very small children who mouth objects, enclosed mini tambourines are available, which are much safer for them to use on their own. What Is a Tambourine? Tambourine means little drum,... Continue Reading →
Spotlight on Wooden Sticks
How to learn music with wooden sticks. Developing a sense of musical pulse, motor skills and turn taking with wooden sticks.
Making DIY Castanets
Learn how to make your own homemade pair of castanets from items you already have at home.
Spotlight on glockenspiel
A spotlight on the glockenspiel. A first musical instrument for children in the tuned percussion family.
Spotlight on tambourine
Spotlight on tambourine, a great first percussion instrument. What is a tambourine and how to play it
Music Book Review: Usborne Listen and Learn Musical Instruments
Today’s Music Book Review is Listen and Learn Musical Instruments from Usborne Books. We do have quite a lot of Usborne books at home. They are quite fantastic for young children - and that is my experience so far as my eldest is 6 years old as I write this. My recommendations may change as... Continue Reading →
Making a DIY hand drum
Making a hand drum out of items you have at home. Keeping the children busy with screen free activities.
Making a DIY cardboard box guitar
Another incredibly simple instrument to have a go at making at home this week. Today we have a box guitar! Now you can make these guitars as fancy or as plain as you like. We opted for plain so we could get on with using them- the children couldn’t wait to use them! You can... Continue Reading →
Making DIY straw and foil shaker
Making easy musical instruments with children, to keep children busy during the corona lockdown.
Making DIY Lego shaker
Making DIY Lego shaker. An instrument my 5 year old was able to make entirely independently.
Making DIY windchimes
How to make indoor beaded windchimes from things you may already have at home.
Making Balloon Shakers
More DIY instruments to make with your children while stuck in self isolation. This time: balloon shakers.
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Notelets series concert review: Crash Bang Wallop!
A review of a children’s classical music concert: Crash, Bang, Wallop! From the CBSO’s Notets series.
getkidsintomusic.com 