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

[For 3-year-olds] Kasta Tantan

♪ Kasta-tantan | Castanet Rhythm Play | Easy Eurhythmics (with Piano Sheet Music)

Learn how to play the castanets and have fun with “Kasutantan.” Because you hold castanets with your fingertips, it may take a bit of practice to learn the correct grip.

With musical play, you can get familiar with castanets while having fun.

“Kasutantan” is a game where you can enjoy playing castanets to a song and even spin around on the spot, but you’ll need practice to click the castanets right on the beat.

It’s great if you can also get used to rhythm while playing.

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[For 4-year-olds] Let’s try an ensemble

[For 4-year-olds Ensemble] For Recital: “Hamehameha King of the Southern Island” — Melodica, Bells, Guiro, Maracas, Homemade Instruments, Plastic Bottles, Let’s Try It! Kindergarten, Nursery School, Percussion — Akiko Yamamoto

For four-year-olds, let’s develop instrument play into an ensemble.

The experience of creating the same piece together will surely become a precious memory.

If you assign parts like the melodica, guiro, bells, and maracas, it makes a perfect combination for “The Hamehameha King of the Southern Island.” In an ensemble, children need not only to play their own parts but also to focus on listening to the surrounding sounds while they wait.

They may feel unsure at first, but as they practice, they’ll gain confidence and come to enjoy playing in an ensemble.

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[Ages 3] Drive! Tambourine

Drive! Tambourine (Instrument Rhythm Play)

“Drive! Tambourine” is an instrument play activity where you enjoy various movements with a tambourine while listening to music.

You can sing while shaking the tambourine, or pretend the tambourine is a steering wheel and move it around.

Getting children familiar with the tambourine through instrument play makes it easier to introduce it for concerts and recitals.

The song selection is a bit simple for three-year-olds, but it’s a great choice for a first instrument play activity.

Once the children start to remember it, you might try having them perform without the teacher’s demonstration.

Let’s all get excited together!

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[For 0-year-olds] Let’s enjoy sounds

Koguma Class (0-year-olds) enjoyed playing with musical instruments. Hachiman Kodomoen (Tsukimi, Fukui City)

Let’s enjoy sounds with infants.

You can make maracas using empty lactic acid drink containers, and if the teacher can closely supervise, you can involve the children from the making stage.

Since fillings like azuki beans or beads could be put in mouths, consider whether to work on this together while carefully observing the children.

Secure the lids firmly with glue or vinyl tape.

Have the children stick stickers around the outside.

Once the maracas are ready, try shaking them to the music and have fun!

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[For 4-year-olds] Let’s make sounds to the music

[4-year-olds] Music playtime together ♫

Four-year-olds should enjoy listening to sounds, feeling the rhythm, and playing along.

It’s fine to use the instruments available at the preschool.

If your preschool has instruments like a bass drum, snare drum, or triangle, this is a great opportunity to let children try them.

A key point in instrument play is allowing children to choose which instrument to use themselves.

Prepare as many instruments as possible so they can experience a variety.

Children will make plenty of discoveries—what kinds of sounds each instrument makes and how to make those sounds.

It will be a fun and engaging time.

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[5-year-old] Hordiria

Holdilia: Simple parent-child bonding activities. Eurhythmics with instrument play, including piano sheet music.

Here’s a musical instrument activity that’s perfect for five-year-olds, a time when friendships deepen.

To the rhythm of Holdiria’s music, take turns playing your own instrument and then your partner’s, repeating back and forth.

If the rhythm is challenging, feel free to adapt it so the children can enjoy participating.

Playing in sync while making eye contact with a favorite friend is sure to bring them even closer! It’s also great for each child to use a different instrument to notice how the sounds vary.

Let’s have fun communicating through music—playing instruments together with friends, teachers, and parents alike.

[Age 5] “The Frog Song” in rhythm

First Rhythm Play: “The Frog Song” (for ages 4–5) — quarter notes and quarter rests

How about trying a rhythm activity that focuses on note lengths? It’s a great activity for five-year-olds who are starting to express the images they imagine in their minds through their bodies.

First, clearly explain that each note has its own meaning and that notes can have different lengths.

Using familiar animal sounds to illustrate note lengths can help children visualize them more easily.

Once they get used to keeping rhythm with notes and rests, try playing along with music.

If everyone’s timing comes together, it can strengthen your class’s sense of unity! Enjoy the activity at the children’s pace.