You do not need fancy instruments to make music. You can make music with things you find around your house, with your voice, or just by clapping your hands! Everyone can be a music maker.
Making your own music means creating sounds that you like. You can bang on pots, shake a jar of rice, or hum a tune. There are no wrong notes when you are having fun making music!
You can build instruments from everyday things. Fill a plastic jar with rice or dried beans, put the lid on tight, and shake it to make a maraca. Stretch rubber bands around an empty tissue box to make a guitar you can pluck.
Tape two paper plates together with beans inside to make a tambourine. Use a wooden spoon to tap on pots and pans like drums. You can even blow across the top of an empty bottle to make a whistling sound. Your homemade instruments can sound just as fun as real ones!
Your voice is an instrument you always have with you. You can sing high like a bird or low like a bear. Try humming your favorite song, then singing it with silly made-up words.
Your body can make music too! Clap your hands, stomp your feet, snap your fingers, or pat your knees. Try clapping a pattern and asking a friend to copy it. When you put claps, stomps, and singing together, you are making your very own music!
Making up your own song is called composing. Start by picking a simple rhythm — try clapping a pattern that sounds good to you. Then add words that match the beat. Your song can be about anything: your pet, your favorite food, or a silly story.
You do not have to write your song down. You can just make it up as you go, and that is called improvising. Jazz musicians love to improvise! Try singing a made-up song in the car or in the bathtub. The more you practice, the more songs you will create.
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