The Project: Wax Paper and TP Roll Kazoo
This is a classic DIY musical instrument, and very easy to make. All you need is a toilet paper roll, a square of wax paper, and a rubber band. To jazz them up, I also put out stickers for the kids to decorate their instrument.
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| The most basic version |
I learned something interesting while watching the kiddos and their grownups put this instrument together: a kazoo made out of a toilet paper roll takes more intentional humming than a manufactured kazoo. You have to position your mouth just so at the opening of the roll, and leave an opening for the air to get out, or the humming sound won't happen. When you figure out just the right position, the instrument does make a very satisfying vibration along with the hummmmmmm...
This is another project that we did during
Build Your Own Musical Instrument last summer. At the time, this sign accompanied the project. Today's program was much smaller, so I just verbally explained how to make the kazoo and showed the one I had made as an example.
Program Structure
Today's structure was very similar to February's, with the program being more of a drop-in free play situation rather than an instructional class. I like the Music Lab much better this way since it does follow my
Learn and Grow with Rhythm and Flow storytime, which is 30 minutes of intense brain work for the kiddos as they dance, sing, and make music.
In addition to the craft station, I laid out jungle bells, cymbals, and
wood giros with scrapers (I didn't know the term for them before Google, but these things have been in every preschool classroom in America since the 80's). Another low-stress and successful educational music program!
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| Kids and grownups making kazoos |
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| Showing me the mini cymbals |
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| Playing the kazoo! |
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| Fun with cymbals |
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| Making kazoos |
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| Playing with tambourines and giros |
