RAG MusicChildcare
Lovely childcare

By Age: Enjoy Music with Instrument Play! Plus DIY Instrument Ideas

By Age: Enjoy Music with Instrument Play! Plus DIY Instrument Ideas
Last updated:

By Age: Enjoy Music with Instrument Play! Plus DIY Instrument Ideas

Playing with instruments nurtures children’s ability to enjoy sound and to listen closely.

Above all, the experience of making music together will become a rich treasure for children.

This time, we’ll introduce instrument play activities by target age.

Choose ideas that fit your class and the children’s needs.

We also introduce several handmade instruments.

When children use instruments they’ve made themselves, they feel more attached to them and become more engaged in the activities.

Enjoy wonderful moments through instrument play.

By Age Group: Enjoy Music with Instrument Play! DIY Instrument Ideas Included (1–10)

[For 2-year-olds] Let’s play with handmade instruments

"Let's create beautiful tones with handmade instruments!" [2-year-olds] | Torikai Yuuikuen [Nursery/Kindergarten]
[For 2-year-olds] Let's play with handmade instruments

How about playing with handmade instruments with your two-year-olds? The materials include plastic bottles, empty shoe boxes, empty tissue boxes, straws, and more.

For scraps you can’t buy at the store, let the teachers work together to gather them.

If you cover an empty tissue box with construction paper and stretch rubber bands across it lengthwise, you’ve got a guitar.

Fill a plastic bottle with cut-up straws and it turns into a maraca.

A shoe box can be enjoyed as a drum just by tapping the top with your hands.

Don’t forget to decorate them cutely with stickers and markers.

Have lots of fun playing!

[For 1-year-olds] Let’s try playing various musical instruments

Let’s try playing with instruments with one-year-olds using bells, tambourines, and castanets.

Since all of these instruments make sound just by being touched, they’re perfect for one-year-olds who want to enjoy making sounds.

Start by letting them touch the instruments and get used to them.

Once they’re comfortable, have them play the instruments along with the teacher’s singing or piano.

The key point is to feel and enjoy the sounds.

It’s ideal to choose songs that make it fun to participate.

Watch over the children so they can get familiar with the instruments in their own way.

[Craft] Let’s play with a handmade tambourine

[Upcycled Craft] Easy! Make a Tambourine with Plastic Bottle Caps (Playable Craft & Handmade Toy) [Paper Plate & Bottle Caps] Musical Instrument Craft
[Craft] Let's play with a handmade tambourine

Let’s make a tambourine using a paper plate and plastic bottle caps.

Instruments you make yourself feel special, so you’ll have even more fun playing.

First, fold the paper plate in half and cut it with scissors.

Next, put a small amount of rice into a plastic bottle cap, place another cap on top, and tape around the edges so the rice won’t spill out.

Make three of these rice-filled cap pairs, then secure them in the gaps of the folded-and-taped paper plate.

Enjoy playing with your homemade tambourine, which makes a beautiful, shimmering sound.

[For 2-year-olds] If You’re Happy and You Know It (Clap Your Hands)

#49 [Instrument Play] “If You’re Happy and You Know It” — 2-Year-Old Class
[For 2-year-olds] If You're Happy and You Know It (Clap Your Hands)

Two-year-olds are starting to match their movements to music.

How about playing instruments to the song “If You’re Happy and You Know It”? Castanets are recommended because it’s easy for children to learn the motion needed to make sound.

When the lyrics say to clap your hands, make the castanets click-clack.

It takes practice to learn the timing and play well, but it will be a valuable experience for the children.

Let’s help them collect more “I did it!” moments.

This song is also a great choice for recitals.

[Craft] Making clappers (naruko) from milk cartons

Would you like to make a clapper (naruko) with a charming click-clack sound? Cut the corners of one panel of a milk carton into rounded shapes, fold the panel in half, and make a slit at the center of the crease.

Next, fold two panels of the milk carton so each becomes one-quarter of the original width to form a handle.

Insert this handle into the slit you made and secure it with tape.

Then freely decorate the milk carton with drawings, and attach four plastic bottle caps so they overlap on the inside of the folded section and on the upper part of the inserted handle.

That’s it! Simply shake it side to side to make a click-clack sound, so even small children can easily and enjoyably join in musical play.

[5-year-old] Doraemon on the tambourine

[Tambourine] Let’s try it! “Doraemon” Gen Hoshino — with rhythm notation — rhythm study, instrumental ensemble, elementary school, percussion, educational instruments, Akiko Yamamoto
[5-year-old] Doraemon on the tambourine

How about performing “Doraemon” using tambourines? Instead of just shaking them, five-year-olds can take on the unique challenge of playing with different rhythms and adding simple choreography.

Because Gen Hoshino’s “Doraemon” has complex rhythms, the sense of accomplishment when they master it is tremendous! It would also be great to bring in other instruments, practice together, and perform at a recital.

Let’s enjoy playing in a way that helps them feel the fun of rhythm.

[For 1-year-olds] Cha-cha-cha Snowman with Bells

Musical Play: “The Snowman Cha-Cha-Cha” ... for 0- and 1-year-olds
[For 1-year-olds] Cha-cha-cha Snowman with Bells

Would you like to perform “Yukidaruma no Cha Cha Cha” with one-year-olds? With bells, even one-year-olds can enjoy making sounds.

Start by practicing how to hold the instrument and have fun making sounds.

Gradually, they can also learn to play along with the music.

What matters most is that each child can participate with enjoyment.

If you’re arranging the instrument play for a recital, simple choreography—like raising their arms while ringing the bells—works well.

The sight of children ringing their bells with all their might is absolutely adorable.

Read more
v
Read more
v