News

Music box

Children enjoy making their own musical instruments, though it's important that any they make should create a good sound. If you're feeling ambitious, try the ones below. Table-leg bass
Children enjoy making their own musical instruments, though it's important that any they make should create a good sound. If you're feeling ambitious, try the ones below.

Table-leg bass

* Attach a broom handle securely to a table leg with strong tape, making sure it clears the table by 1m.

* Tie one end of a piece of strong string securely to the top of the handle and the other end to the leg diagonally opposite. The string must be tight or it won't work.

* Pluck the string and hear the bass boom.

* Too change the pitch, make the string tighter or looser by pressing it against the handle with your othe rhand.

* It is best for a practitioner to try making the instrument first.

Horsepipe horn

* Wrap a length of garden tubing (or similar) around itself to make a snkae like coil.

* Leave about 5cm of the tubing uncoiled at each end.

* Hold the coil in place with strong sticky tape.

* Push a funnel into the central end of the coil to form mthe 'bell' of the horn and secure it with tape.

* Tie a length of string through the middle of the horn, over your shoulder, across your chest and back again to form a holding strap.

* To play, blow a rasberry down the inside the outside end of the tube.

* Do not let any air escape out of the sides of your mouth.