Choose solid hardwood boards for the keys. The denser and harder the wood, the clearer the sound will be. In addition, keys made of such material will be more resistant to scratches and damage.
Cut the boards into 9 strips 3.8 centimeters wide. Put on safety goggles and ear plugs or earmuffs and use a circular saw or other power tool to cut the wood into strips. Keep your hands at least 15 centimeters away from the cutting wheel to avoid injury. The keys for the xylophone should be of the following length:
- 25.1 centimeters:
- 24.8 centimeters;
- 21.9 centimeters;
- 21.1 centimeters;
- 20.5 centimeters;
- 19.7 centimeters;
- 18.9 centimeters;
- 17.3 centimeters;
- 16.3 centimeters.
Mark on the keys the places where they will be attached to the body of the xylophone. Each key must be attached approximately 1/5 of the length from its end. Mark with chalk the end you will attach to the body, and measure from it about 1/5 of the length of the key.
- Do this for all keys.
- To test the end you are going to attach the key to the body, take a xylophone stick with your fingers and tap it on that spot. If the result is a clear sound, you have chosen the right place.
Draw a wide arc between the two marked points on the ends of the keys. Take the chalk and draw a wide arc on one side of the key. You will cut the tree along this arc with a power tool.
- To cut wood more precisely, measure and draw an arc with a protractor.
Take an electric tool and cut the key along the arc. Use the drawn arc to give the key the desired shape. At the same time, do not forget to keep your hands at least 15 centimeters apart.
- After you make arc cuts in the keys, they will resonate better.
Purchase plywood or planks of pine or hardwood for the body of the xylophone. The body should not resonate, so different types of wood can be used for it. If you decide to make it out of plywood, look for five or seven ply thin-coated furniture plywood to give the cabinet a nice look.
Measure and cut the sides of the case. Cut the plywood into 5 pieces using a circular saw or other power tool. Observe the safety precautions while doing this. Pre-measure the sides so that they meet the following dimensions:
- 11.8 by 56.8 centimeters (2);
- 11.8 by 13.7 centimeters (1);
- 11.8 by 6.0 centimeters (1);
- a trapezoid 56.8 centimeters high with an upper side of 6.0 centimeters and a base of 13.7 centimeters (1).
Glue the body with wood glue. Before gluing the case, fold the 4 top sides together, slide the bottom sheet under them and make sure they fit snugly together. If the sides don't meet, straighten them. circular saw or other tool.
Mark the places for the nails on the top side of the body. Mark places for nails at a distance of 3.2 centimeters on both sides of the body. On one side, start placing marks at a distance of 3.2 centimeters. On the other hand, step back from the edge of 6.4 centimeters.
- This is where you will place the keys of the xylophone.
Drive nails into the tree. Take a hammer and hammer nails into the wood so that each of them protrudes about 2.5 centimeters above the surface.
- If you are going to stain or varnish the body of the xylophone to make it shine, do it after you have hammered in the nails.
How to make musical instruments with your own hands in order to distract the child from the tablet, cartoons and just have fun together.
Homemade children's musical instruments are a great way to captivate a child in a game that has no end and edge. It doesn't matter if he constructs a musical instrument with his own hands together with you or not. The fantasy that turns on at the moment when you start making musical instruments from what is at hand helps you see the world in a different way.
What can I say if once the bowl was a drum. The study of music is very important for intellectual development child, so below is a list of 10 ways to create homemade children's musical instruments.
Often children are in love with music and sounds even before they are born. They always react to it and bounce at the sound of daddy's kisses while in the tummy.
Parents, in turn, often try to reinforce their love of all things musical, including dance, song, and sound. One of better ways to achieve the goal, do-it-yourself homemade musical instruments can become, so if you are looking for ways to instill musicality in your child, you are here.
A musical instrument doesn't have to be cool and expensive, which is why we can all appreciate homemade options. Thousands of ways to recycle what you don't need and make DIY musical instrument crafts for kids take you one step closer to an instrumental family party!
Corolla - maracas
If you have a couple of extra whisks lying around, they can be quickly transformed into maracas. You just need to find a couple of bells and, stringing them on a wire, attach them inside the whisk. You can even make maracas different sounds, picking up whisks or bells of different sizes.
Rubber rope - guitar
The craft is as easy as shelling pears: an old empty box and rubber bands. The more colorful the rubber bands, the more fun. The thickness of the rubber band changes how it sounds - so try it out and decide on your own ballad.
Cymbals
What kid doesn't love to knock on something?! We certainly don't want broken glass lids or broken appliances. In this way, perfect solution- metal jars for spices. If you hit all the covers at once, then the sound is “chic”, but, fortunately, not very deafening.
Thunderbolts and noisemakers
Again about metal cans. We fill one side with nuts and / or beans, close the second jar, tie with an elastic band. You can also use plastic Easter eggs.
You can also make a children's musical instrument with a rattle using a large oatmeal container. Just secure the lid with rubber bands so that the sound doesn't deteriorate and the contents don't fall out. If you decorate the box beautifully, it can even be used at some school parade.
drum set
If you just need to rattle, we take an old tin and some kind of kitchen appliance that can be used to slide along the edges of the can. If your eye falls on a more complex musical device, use sticks, cans and mounts to make an entire drum set (most importantly, make sure that all sharp edges are sanded or muffled).
Xylophone
Wooden, metal or water in glasses - xylophones are different, and their sound is even more so.
The simplest type of xylophone is glasses filled with water and the technique of sliding a finger along the rim. More advanced ones include options for making a wooden xylophone, but the internet has a million tips for any level of difficulty.
Home outdoor playgrounds
Some people spend a fortune to create a mini orchestra at home, but it doesn't have to be all that big and expensive. Stretch a few ropes in the yard, hang rattlers, noisemakers, maracas on them, and place large “drums” nearby. A rock concert is provided for the neighbors.
Rattle-drum
This pink striped socks homemade musical instrument is perfection. This is a rattle drum. For toddlers, this is a great introduction to the world of music, and even funny toy for older children. You just need to look around the house for a few things: a piece of hard cardboard and twine, and you can make your instrument in a fun and easy way.
Clapping sticks
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Simple clappers made from sticks for stirring paint. It is not only a tool, but also an art project for your little ones. Plus, a fun and easy way to reuse paint stirrers.
Castanets
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Castanets are Carmen's musical instrument that creates a clicking sound. This sound is somewhat reminiscent of the clatter of a rider when he drives the horse forward.
Castanets made from halves of coconut are no worse than the original ones. In addition, they are very cute and easy to use for the little ones. A great way to get acquainted with new sounds and feel like a Spaniard for a minute..
A tambourine is a percussion musical instrument of indefinite pitch.
Your child can easily make this rainbow craft using: paper plate, paints, cotton balls, glue and clothespins.
An original introduction to musical instruments for kids.
Pipe pipe
Svirel is a folk musical instrument in the form of a pipe made of wood or reed. With the help of straws, your child can build such a musical instrument.
To do this, you will need: tubes of different lengths, scissors, adhesive tape and a dense tape to wrap the tubes. A little effort and the tool is ready.
We hope the article was useful to you and now you know how you can give old things a second life.
Your child making his own musical instrument will show the strengths of creative and intellectual thinking.
One of the most favorite toys of children is, of course, a musical instrument with metal strips, which is commonly called a glockenspiel! It is not necessary to purchase such a toy in a store, you can also make it your own. with my own hands Houses. This article will detail how this can be done.
Necessary materials and tools for creating a metallophone:
- a wooden block measuring 60 * 2 * 3.5 centimeters;
- a wooden block measuring 32 * 2 * 1.5 centimeters;
- a piece of metal measuring 200 * 3 * 0.4 centimeters;
- self-tapping screws measuring 16 * 3 mm;
- varnish for wood with a glossy effect;
- four screws of 5 centimeters.
First stage.
First, eight pieces must be cut from a piece of metal. different size. In shape, these parts should be trapezoid. The maximum length of the first element should be 15 centimeters, and the minimum length should be 10 centimeters. This will need to be taken into account in the process of cutting metal plates. In addition, each detail must be reduced by 1-2 centimeters. Then, when the metal components are completely ready, you will need to drill holes in them for attachment, and then sand the sides and the entire surface as a whole.
For the comfort of work, all templates of parts can be prepared in advance and transferred to the metal surface.
Second phase.
Then, each wooden block must be sawn into two parts. In the end, you should get two elements of 30 centimeters each, as well as two more elements with a length of 15 and 17 centimeters.
Third stage.
After that, using self-tapping screws, you need to fasten the metal parts to two wooden bars of 30 centimeters each.
Fourth stage.
Then, the wooden cross pieces, with the help of large screws, need to be attached to the two side wooden components.
Fifth stage.
Then you need to unscrew all the screws and paint the metal parts in the desired colors. Then you need to let the paint dry completely.
Sixth stage.
After that, all the painted parts of the metallophone will need to be attached back to the base of the wooden musical instrument, but following a clear sequence: wooden base, flat washer, metal part, self-tapping screw.
Seventh stage.
Then you need to completely cover the created musical instrument with spray varnish. In this case, the varnish must be applied in a thin layer.
After the varnish is completely dry, the musical instrument can be used.
This musical instrument is familiar to many of us since childhood. This way you can make your own children happy. It is not necessary to buy it at all, especially if you are a fan of homemade products. Try your own forces and you can get, as a result, a metallophone by following step-by-step instructions.
materials
To make a metallophone with your own hands, you will need:
- wooden block measuring 32 x 2 x 1.5 cm;
- wooden block measuring 60 x 2 x 3.5 cm;
- a piece of metal 200 x 3 x 0.4 cm;
- self-tapping screws 16 x 3 mm;
- washers;
- four 5 cm screws;
- varnish for wood with a glossy effect.
Step 1. From a piece of metal you will need to cut 8 parts different size. The shape is a trapezoid. The maximum length of the first element is 15 cm, the minimum is 10 cm. Keep this in mind when cutting. Reduce each part by 1 - 2 cm. After the metal components are ready, drill holes in them for fastening and grind the side parts and the entire surface as a whole.
For the convenience of work, templates of parts can be prepared and transferred to the metal in advance.
Step 2. Cut each piece of wood into two pieces. As a result, you should get two elements of 30 cm each and two more 15 and 17 cm long.
Step 3. Using self-tapping screws, screw the metal parts to two 30 cm wooden blocks.
Step 4. Attach the transverse wooden parts with large screws to the two side wooden components.
Step 5. Remove all self-tapping screws and paint the metal parts in the desired colors. Let the paint dry thoroughly.
Step 6. Attach the painted parts of the metallophone back to the wooden base of the musical instrument, following the sequence: wooden base, flat washer, metal part, self-tapping screw.
I have two nieces whom I adore. The eldest is three years old and the youngest is only a year old. A real expanse for imagination when choosing a Christmas present. The eldest is just the age when you desperately need to open all the gifts. And so that the packaging does not hide, there will always be a storm of delight, even if it is some kind of hand-made, which I will use.
Unfortunately, the time will soon come when cheap plastic toys will be more desirable than handmade ones. This is inevitable, because they are brighter and louder, and this is also important for the games of young children.
Fortunately for me, while my nieces are happy with any toy. I want to give them something that will help them develop their imagination and outlive the plastic junk. The younger girl really likes to knock on everything that her hands reach. So I decided to make a xylophone with my own hands.
I know that this musical instrument will soon be removed with other toys in the attic, but I also know that when it is taken out again, it will look and sound the same and will be even more loved than at the beginning.
Well, here is my xylophone, and I hope you try to make yours.
Step 1: Everything you need
- Several wooden slats.
- I have oak, cherry and walnut.
- End saw.
- grinding machine
- Spindle machine
- Drilling machine
- Adhesive felt points
- wooden nails
- Wood glue
Step 2: Cutting Wood Parts
I had enough scraps left over from a previous project and they fit the xylophone perfectly. I used cherry, oak, and walnut to make the xylophone look nice, but it was difficult to set up the different woods.
I started with the longest key - I cut off a piece of 229 mm. In total, I made 7 blanks for the keys, each 13 mm shorter than the previous one. The last key turned out to be 152 mm.
Then I rounded the corners of the keys so that the children would not inadvertently get hurt.
Step 3: Customizing the Keys
I didn't think about it beforehand, but getting the keys to sound right is the hardest part of making a xylophone. I'm by no means a setup expert, so I'll explain what I did as best I can.
As I already mentioned, the difference in the length of the keys is 13mm. I thought that length was the determining factor in sound, but it turned out that this is not so at all.
It turned out that the sound is determined by a curved notch with reverse side keys. I started sanding the middle section, backing off 38mm along the edges. This improved the sound, but it was still not very pleasant.
The deeper the notch on the key, the lower its tone. I made a small stand to test the sound - a small block wrapped with rubberized tape. Putting the key across the winding, I checked the sound. If the sound seemed too high to me, I removed some more wood in the notch. If the sound was too high, I removed a little length grinding machine. Some people use an electronic tuner to get the perfect sound, but I didn't. Having arranged the keys in order, we begin to mount them on the base.
Step 4: Installing the Keys
Actually, this is a very simple step. Your goal is to keep the keys from touching the frame of the xylophone. This is necessary for the purity of the sound.
First, I drilled 7 pairs of holes in the frame, the same diameter as the nails. The holes are not very deep as I wanted the keys to have a little play. I then drilled holes for the nails in each key, the diameter of the holes being a number larger than the diameter of the nails.
I used felt points so that the keys did not exactly touch the frame - I made a hole in each and glued it to the frame. Nails with keys put on them were hammered into the holes on the frame, additionally glued with wood glue.
Step 5: Beater
I wanted to make a mallet not ordinary, but with a twist. I glued two pieces of cherry wood together and left the glue to dry overnight. The next day, I made a hole in the head for the rod and sanded the edges at a variety of angles, without any system.
Then I put the rod on the glue and the work was completed. The mallet came out stylish, and it will last a very long time.
Step 6: Conclusion
My one year old niece got her present for Christmas. Without too much modesty, I will say that it was a hit. She really likes to knock and listen to what sound she makes. Her older sister is also pleased with the gift.
If I ever make a xylophone again, I'll spend more time tuning the keys. Due to the fact that Christmas was very close and I had a few more gifts to make, I was in a hurry and spent little time setting up, and now I regret it. There is almost nothing to do, and the sound can be brought almost to perfection ... now for the next time.
Thank you for reading about my children's xylophone, I hope you try to make one yourself. The work is easy, and the result is simply excellent. Of course, this is more difficult than buying something in a store, but the return is a hundred times greater! Thanks again!
