THE ERAS

Ocean Drums are so much fun to make!

Materials Needed:

• Collect a box - or shoebox!
• Crayons, markers, stickers
• Construction paper
• Ziplock - plastic snack bag
• Rubberbands
• Scissors
• tape
• 1 cup of rice for inside the ocean drum

Directions:

1. Parents assistance: Cut a rectangle on top of the shoebox opening.
2. Cut one side of a ziploc or plastic snack bag - making it into a rectangle or square - slightly bigger than the cut-rectangle box opening.
3. Decorate the construction paper with crayons, markers, or stickers (you can also decorate more at the very end). The construction paper will then be added around the box. Use tape to wrap securely; however leaving the top rectangle open.
4. Add 1 cup of rice or if you need more into the shoebox.
5. Tape the ziplock bag on top of the rectangle box opening
6. Add any decorations around the box.
7. Making sure every side is secure - gently grab each the sides of the box.
8. Gently tip the box side to side - creating an ocean sound.
9. Create more and make music!

Fore more see how it's been used in my music recitals:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/costa-staff-music-recital-2018-gisel-costa/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/costa-staff-music-recital-2018-gisel-costa/

Rainsticks are so much fun to make!

Materials Needed:

• Collect the Cardboard of a Papertowel Roll! Fun way to reuse!
• Crayons, markers, stickers
• Construction paper
• brown paper grocery bag
• Yarn
• Rubberbands
• Scissors
• tape
• Pipe cleaners and/or craft wire, OR Aluminum foil (Parents should assist on this one)
• Beads, rice, beans, or other material for inside the rainstick

Directions:

1. Decorate the construction paper with crayons, markers, or stickers (you can also decorate more at the very end). The construction paper will then be added around the Papertowel Roll. Use tape to wrap securely.
2. Cut out two circles from a brown paper grocery bag. 
3. Attach one circle to the end of your cardboard tube using a rubber band.
4. Grab pipe cleaners, craft wire, or aluminum foil - and create a coil that can fit inside the rainstick!
5. Add a 1/2 cup of rice, beans, or beads inside the rainstick.
6. Test the sound of the rainstick, rubberband the other paper circle to the opposite end.
7. Add yarn on the ends of the rainstick, tying it around and add as many as you like. 
8. Create more and make music!

Objective:

This fun project for my students or kids learning music is not only to practice but also to create and understand the structure and patterns of the keyboard. This will also enable the beginner student to comprehend different hand positions. If there is enough time I allow my students to be as creative as possible. We are creating a 2D keyboard.

There are 88 keys on a given piano but for the young beginner an octave or two octaves will be a great start.

What You Will Need: 

Construction Paper

Labels

Crayons/Markers/Glitter Glue

Scissors

What to Do: 

Ask your student or child to look identify the patterns and structure of the keys. Add the long white labels to the construction paper to create the main white keybed.

Using scissors, cut the labels in half to add the black keys patterns. There are 2 black keys and then 3 black keys. Assist and make sure your student or child is adding the black keys in the correct areas. Color the keys either black or any color of their choice.

Add either glitter glue or markers around the keys. This can help distinguish the keys.

Write the musical alphabetical pattern on the keys or any key position.