Coffee Can Drum

Kids love music and banging on pots, pans, and plastic containers. Combine their creativity with their musical talent by making this adorable homemade drum.

Did you know the drum is called a membranophone. Drums consist of a hollowed-out piece(called the body), a membrane stretched over the end of the drum, and tuning keys or pegs which tighten or loosen the membrane to achieve different tones.

While most may think that the body of the drum produces the sound, it is in fact the membrane and its vibration that creates the sound when struck. Drums first appeared as far back as 6000 BC. Mesopotamian excavations unearthed small cylindrical drums dated 3000 BC.

Wall markings were found in caves in Peru. They show drums used in various aspects of  life. The American Indians used gourd and wooden constructed drums for their rituals and ceremonies.

What you'll need:

• Aluminum coffee can with plastic lid
• 2 sheets yellow construction paper
• 1 sheet tan felt
• ½ sheet magenta felt
• Magenta yarn
• 1 rubber band
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• White craft glue
• 2 wooden dowels
• 2 small foam balls
• Blue yarn

How to make it:

1. Remove lid from coffee can and set aside for a later step.
2. Cover the side of the can with yellow construction paper. Use glue stick to apply glue all over construction paper then press on to the coffee can.
3. Using the white craft glue, “draw” diagonal lines onto the yellow construction paper. Start at the bottom, go up at a slant to the top, and then go down from there at a slant, creating a triangle. Continue this pattern all the way around the can.
4. Using magenta colored yarn, follow the glue lines and apply to the can. Do not cut the yarn into pieces; simply follow the lines, gently pressing the yarn into the glue as you go. Cut only once at the end.
5. Lay tan felt on the work surface.
6. Pipe white glue around and on the top of the plastic lid.
7. Place the plastic lid upside down in the center of the tan felt.
8. Use scissors to trim around the plastic lid, leaving a 1-2” border.
9. Place the felt-covered plastic lid onto the coffee can and secure.
10. Wrap the rubber band around the coffee can, securing the tan felt border to the side of the can. Gently pull the felt tight so that the top is smooth.
11. Cut two ½-inch wide strips from the magenta felt, enough to go around the coffee can at the bottom as well as at the top, around the tan felt, covering the rubber band. Glue in place with white craft glue.
12. To make the drumsticks, gently insert the end of a dowel into the foam ball. If you press too hard and the dowel goes through, just glue it back together.
13. Remove the dowel, and then add some white glue to the hole. Reinsert the dowel.
14. Cover the foam ball with white glue and wrap blue yarn around it until the ball is completely covered. (See image.)
15. Put some glue on the dowel just below the ball and wrap some excess yarn around it. Trim and smooth in place with your fingers, be sure the end of the yarn isn’t sticking out.
16. Allow everything to dry before playing your new drum!

Credit:KABOOSE

Books related to our topic:

"The Drum: A Folktale from India is an excellent little story that teaches love, respect, compassion, hope, charity, and good citizenship. A poor boy has only one wish: to have his own drum. However, his mother cannot afford the instrument. The sweet child understands though, and unlike today's often spoiled, demanding children, he doesn't whine or beg or throw a tantrum. He bravely accepts his family's situation" Reviewed by:Arcturus70
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"I have used this book for several years in my music classroom. I've used it to introduce percussion family, marching band,self-expression and creative compositions. The story itself is wonderfully done, but the illustrations make the book a treasure. My students ask to read this one during Read Aloud Week" Reviewed by:Cathie B.
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