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

Panda’s Tambourine

Cute instruments can lift the mood! Here’s a panda tambourine idea to try.

You’ll need a paper plate, a straw, scissors, masking tape, panda parts cut from construction paper, and glue or double-sided tape.

First, cut the straw with scissors.

Next, fold the paper plate in half, put the cut straw pieces inside, and seal it.

Finally, attach the panda parts made from construction paper—and you’re done! It’s a charming, creative idea that will capture children’s interest.

Give it a try!

Empty Can Tambourine

Let me share an idea for making tambourines out of empty cans and boxes.

What you’ll need: empty cans or boxes from snacks, double-sided tape or glue, parts made from construction paper, and decorative materials.

Have you ever thrown away a round cookie tin or an empty cheese box thinking it might be useful for something? Why not try making a tambourine that’s fun to create and delightful to play, together with your child! The step where you freely stick the parts together is exciting for both kids and adults.

Give it a try!

Handmade tambourine using 100-yen shop materials

[For 1-year-olds] Handmade musical instrument play

Make it with a one-year-old! Here are ideas for handmade tambourines using materials you can get at a 100-yen shop.

What you’ll need: paper plates, washi tape, air-dry clay, disposable chopsticks, bells, and stickers.

Let’s create handmade instruments together with one-year-old children! The finished instruments can be tambourines or drums, and the charm is that each child can play freely.

It’s adorable to see children freely perform to music with their own original instruments, decorated by cheerfully sticking on stickers.

Gum-Gum Tambourine

[Super Easy] Gomu-Gomu Tambourine [Handmade Toy DIY]

Let’s customize a tambourine! Here are some ideas for a “Gomu-Gomu Tambourine” (a rubber-band tambourine).

You’ll need craft beads, twist rubber bands, scissors, an awl, and a 6-inch wooden tambourine.

A tambourine is typically played by hitting or shaking it to make sounds, but with a few custom touches, it can become even more fun for everyone—from kids to adults.

Don’t you wonder what kind of sound it will make when you play it with colorful beads and stretchy rubber bands? Give it a try and make your own!

straw tambourine

[Handmade Toy] An Instrument Even Infants Will Love! How to Make a Tambourine with Paper Plates

You can make one even without bells or cymbals! Here’s an idea for a tambourine made with straws.

What you’ll need: two paper plates, straws, scissors, tape, washi tape, pens, and illustrations.

How about making a tambourine with paper plates and straws and giving it a try? Since you can draw your favorite designs on the paper plates, it’s great to use pens to freely draw and customize it.

Cutting out and pasting illustrations is wonderful too! Give it a try!

tambourine maracas

[Making Instruments with Children] Tambourine Maracas

Let’s make an original instrument! Here are ideas for a tambourine-maracas combo.

You’ll need deep paper plates, double-sided tape or craft glue, jingle bells, ribbons, masking tape, felt, sequins, and other decorative materials.

How about creating your very own instrument with a free imagination? It looks like a tambourine, can be shaken like maracas, and even played like a drum.

This kind of engaging craft nurtures children’s imagination.

Give it a try!

Tambourine made from a cheese container

Easy tambourine craft with a cheese container

Let’s make one by attaching bells to an empty container! Here’s an idea for a tambourine made from a cheese container.

You’ll need: an empty cheese container, origami paper in your favorite colors or patterns, double-sided tape, an awl, bells, thread, scissors, and tape.

First, stick the origami paper onto the cheese container.

Next, use the awl to make five holes around the side.

Finally, thread the bells, tie them to the holes in the container, and secure with tape—that’s it! You’ll have a handmade instrument that’s easy for kids to hold in both size and weight.