Tag Archives: homeschool music

Toenails of Goats – An Amazing Musical Instrument!

All around the world, people make music. But because they all have different materials in their environment, they create musical instruments that are unique to each continent and culture.

One of my favorite unusual instruments to share are chapchas. Most often seen in the Andean countries of South America, this percussion instrument is made from the toe nails of goats, boiled and then strung onto a cloth circle or bracelet and rattled together to create the sound. What does it sound like? Most people think it sounds like a beautiful rainstick or a gentle rattle.

You can hear them right here:

You can also hear how chapchas sound being played with other instruments in this video of a song sung in Quechua, the language used in rural Peru that dates back to the Incan empire. Just listen for the instrument that is not a flute or a drum, but sounds like a rainstick or a rattle.

Why Use The Toenails Of Goats?

Why use the toenails of goats as a musical instrument? The answer is simple. Many communities in the rural Andes are located at an altitude above the tree line so it is difficult to find things like wood, seeds or branches to create many common instruments. And most of these communities are herders, so the clipped toenails would be readily available every spring for fashioning an instrument like the chapchas.

Color Your Own Chapchas

Want to take a closer look at chapchas? You can color your own goat toe-nail rattle in this TPT freebie here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Color-The-Chapchas-An-Instrument-from-The-Andes-650050

Enjoy More Posts About Hispanic Heritage Month from Multicultural Kid Bloggers!

We are so excited for our eighth annual Hispanic Heritage Month series! Now through October 15, you’ll find great resources to share Hispanic Heritage with kids, plus you can link up your own posts on Hispanic Heritage!

Find even more ideas on our Latin America Pinterest board:

September 16

Pura Vida Moms on Multicultural Kid Blogs: Celebrating Latino Culture

September 17

Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes: Julia de Burgos, Puerto Rico’s Most Famous Latina Poet

September 18

Hispanic Mama: Raising Kids to Be Proud of Their Latino Heritage

September 19

Spanish Playground: Spanish Tongue Twisters for Kids

September 20

MommyMaestra: Tito Puente Lesson Plans, Coloring Pages, Crafts, Activities and More

September 23

Kids Spanish Book Club: Five Bilingual Picture Books

September 24

Embracing Diversity: 21 Inspirational Quotes by American Latinos To Uplift & Empower

September 25

el Mundo de Pepita

September 26

Little Nómadas: Quesillo Venezolano

September 27

De Su Mama

September 30

Baby Devotions

October 1

For the Love of Spanish

October 2

October 3

October 4

October 7

October 8

The Multilingual Home

October 9

Bookworms and Owls

October 10

Jeddah Mom

October 11

Pretty Mama Breastfeeding

October 14

Multicultural Kid Blogs

October 15

Maritere Bellas

Don’t miss all of the great posts from previous years as well: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

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Posted in Ecology/Nature, First Instruments, Homeschool Musical Fun, Multicultural Music, Native American Music, Simple Instruments

Tagged Andes, Chapchas, childrens music., Daria, Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Hispanic Heritage Month, homeschool music, Incan empire, kids music, multicultural music, musica infantil, percussion, Peru, Quechua, unusual percussion, world music, world music for kids. HHM, young children and music

Make a Water Drum In Your Own Backyard

Does this look like fun?

This musical water play is based on an actual instrument called a gourd water drum. Found both in Africa and in the ancient Mayan culture of Mexico, this drum has a completely unique and amazing sound that is deep and resonant and can be heard for long distances. Here’s a picture of an actual gourd water drum.

Originally made from a bushel gourd as the bowl and smaller gourd pieces as the stand and the floating resonator, we’ve come up with a fun way to try this at home that makes for great play, especially when the weather is hot!

First, take any kiddie pool and fill it with about 1-2 inches of water. Next add round items gently into the surface of the water. Last, tap them with homemade beaters like an unsharpened pencil, wooden spoon or make your own beater by wrapping electric tape around one end of a stick or a wooden dowels.

Tips For Drummers

Tap gently, and listen for the sound. Each floating drum head will sound different try. Which sound do you like?

If the floating drum head has sunk into the water, you’ll lose the quality of sound. Lift it up and set it back on the surface if the water to continue playing.

Put on your favorite summer songs and tap along with the music.

If you enjoy this unusual drum and want to play more - look for other potential floating drum head at places like yard sales, garage sales and thrift stores. It’s a great way to continue this fun and exciting sound and sensory activity.

Can You Step Into The Pool While Drumming?

Sure! They did it in the video and play session pictured above. Go ahead, as long as it’s okay with mom, dad or whoever else is watching.

Links and Resources

Water drum post – Hear one here! http://www.tinytappingtoes.com/early-learning-with-music/the-yaqui-gourd-water-drum-from-ancient-mexico/

MYO Drum Beater – http://www.tinytappingtoes.com/classroom-music/make-a-little-drum-beater-for-a-big-drum/

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Posted in African Music, Early Learning With Music, Family Fun, First Instruments, Simple Instruments

Tagged children and music, Daria, Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, dariamusic, DIY music, drumming, Drums, Earth Day activities, Easiest Instruments For Children, homeschool music, kids make music, kids summer activities, music activities for kids, music for toddlers, Open Play, sensory activities, Sensory craft, summer camp activities, Summer fun, unusual percussion, Water play, World drums

Ada’s Violin – Making Music From Trash!

Have you heard about the children’s orchestera where the instruments were made entirely from trash taken from a garbage dump? How could this happen?

You’ll love to hear the true story of a man named Favio Chávez who came to a small town in Paraguay as an environmental engineer and went to work in a huge landfill. As he worked to teach safety practices at the dump, he became friends with the kids and the families – some of whom had working in that dump for generations! And, he also loved music and was able to teach it!

Can you imagine what happens next? Favio dreams of a better life for his new friends and especially one where they could play music. One little girl named Ada dreamed of playing a violin but didn’t know how she could ever afford to buy a violin or take lessons. This inspiring story is a powerful testament to the power of music, hope and the difference that caring and creative people can make in the lives of their community.

Ada’s Violin was written by Susan Hood with beautiful illustrations by Sally Wern Comport. You’ll love reading about the Recycled Orchestra and how it changed one small town and inspired the world!

Ideas For Making Music From Recyclables

Although these are simpler instruments, you can be inspired to turn trash and recycling into working musical instruments in my E-books. If any teacher or educator does not have the means to purchase them, please contact me (daria music at yahoo dot com) and I can make a special copy available to them.

Turn Plastic Into Music
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Recycling-Projects-TURN-PLASTIC-INTO-MUSIC-5-Multicultural-Music-Activities-3747012

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rock Out
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Rock-Out-E-Book-With-10-Musical-Activities-653502

Daria’s World Music For Kids TPT Store – Follow me for lots of freebies and resources here – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/World-Music-With-Daria

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Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged Ada’s Violin, books for kids, DIY music, Easiest Instruments For Children, Easy Instruments kids, Favio Chavez, homemade violin, homeschool music, kids books music, kids books recycling, kids make music, music from trash, musica infantil, MYO instruments, Paraguay, recycled instruments recycled musical instruments, Recycled orchestra, trash orchestra, young children and music

Travel To Mongolia and Discover The Morin Khuur!

It’s wonderful if you can travel with your children to beautiful and exotic places around the world. But, if you can’t, you can always spend time reading about other countries, discovering their cultures and listening to their unique and beautiful traditional music.

Can you imagine a trip to Mongolia? Known as the “Land of the Eternal Blue Sky, it’s the birthplace of Ghengis Khan and home to camels and reindeer. It’s a place of extreme temperatures and equally striking beauty. It’s the birthplace of “throat-singing” and the home of an instrument called morin khuur.

The morin khurr or horsehead fiddle is the national instrument of Mongolia and is often said to symbolize the deep and connected relationship between horses and people in this region of the world. Similar to the erhu from China, it has only 2 string and is played with a bow. You can hear it’s unique sound and playing style in this video of a song titled “My Father. My Hero”.

We’ve just created a morin khurr poster and freebie coloring page as part of our “Stringed Instruments of The World” series. You can find a link to them below. If you’d like to visit other regions of the world through music, you can also check out some of our other music mini-courses below.

Links and Resources

Morin Khuur -Freebie coloring page - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mongolian-Horsehead-Fiddle-Free-Coloring-Page-3578368

Morin Khuur – poster and coloring page - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Morin-Khuur-Mongolian-Fiddle-3578353

Visit Australia – Music Mini-Series - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Australian-Aboriginal-Instruments-Music-Mini-Course-2816723

Visit India – Music Mini-Series – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Instruments-of-India-Mini-Course-2682389

Visit The Andes – E-Book and CD – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Childs-Life-In-The-Andes-E-Book-Plus-Music-CD-639838

Hispanic Heritage – Music Craft And Coloring Book https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Celebrate-Hispanic-Heritage-Musical-Craft-And-Coloring-E-Book-1427919

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Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged Asian instruments, Daria, Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, dariamusic, homeschool music, horsehead fiddle, Instruments of Asia, Mongolia, Mongolia for kids, morin khuur, multicultural music, Music of Mongolia, silk road for kids, silk road instruments, silk road music, world music with daria

Play Music On The Porch – This Saturday!

We’re excited to share news of a great new day and a great way to bring the family or community together – through music! Check out this guest post from the good folks at Play Music on the Porch Day.

What if for one day everything stopped…and we all just listened to the music?

Imagine, if you can, one day where the sounds of arguments and fighting are replaced with sounds of unity.

One day where those who normally build walls against each other, instead build bridges; note by note. One day where common ground can be found regardless of your race, religion, culture or differences. For there is a sound that rises above it all. One day where language is not a barrier. For, what is being communicated transcends our many different languages and each person feels in their heart what is understood by all.

A day where all can find shelter, unity and a greater understanding of each other. Where we can celebrate the diverse sounds our world holds. Play Music on the Porch Day is offering a platform to do just that. We believe everyone has their own unique sound, let the world hear it.

Join us and share your music and let yourself shine! Together we can light up the world with music!

Register to be added to the map:tinyurl.com/Register4PMOTPD and you can join this amazing group of people ready to make some great music on the 26th!

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Posted in Early Learning With Music, Family Fun, Favorite Songs, Music And Community, Special Needs/Kids of All Abilities

Tagged childrens music., Community Music, family fun, family music, homeschool music, music, Music movements, Play Music on the Porch Day, porch music, young children and music

Make Your Own Egyptian Sistrum!

We’re proud to be part of the Middle Eastern North Africa blog hop. Naturally our post is about music, but make sure you check out all the other related posts (listed below) to learn more about this beautiful and culturally rich part of the world.

Crafting is a great hands-on way for kids to learn about world cultures, so our post shows you how to make a sistrum, a unique rattle that was used in the courts of the Pharoahs of ancient Egypt.

What is a Sistrum?

You can see images of sistrums in hieroglyphics found in the pyramids. A bit of study of the courts of the Pharoahs reveals that the sistrum was played mainly by women or priestesses and that it was played by moving it back and forth from side to side so that the metal bangles create a unique sound and distinctive rhythms. It was often part of ceremonial or the sacred/religious music of the time.

Make Your Own Sistrum From a Tree Branch

If you take a walk in a wooded area, it’s easy to find a tree branch that is shaped like the letter “Y”. You can use the branch “as is” or cut and sand it down, if you like.

Next, you’ll need a bit of floral wire or craft wire. Wrap it around one side of the Y, then add whatever bangles you may have. Below we have a post showing how to safely make bangles from bottlecaps, which is a fun recycling project. Instead – or in addition to bangles – you can also use things like beads, jingle bells or bits of jewelry to add to the bling of your sistrum. Be as creative as you like!

Playing A Sistrum

Although the traditional way to play a sistrum is to move it back and forth only, it’s a rattle so feel free to use it as a percussion instrument any way you like.

Links and Resources

Free Egyptian Sistrum Coloring Page- https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Color-An-Ancient-Egyptian-Rattle-The-Sistrum-2166721

Make Your Own Bangles From Bottlecaps Post – http://www.tinytappingtoes.com/ecologynature/how-to-make-bottle-cap-bangles-for-recycled-musical-instruments/

Welcome to the third annual Middle Eastern and North African Heritage Month series from Multicultural Kid Blogs! Follow along all month long for great resources on teaching children about the heritage of this region, and link up your own posts below. Don’t miss our series from last year and from 2015!

You can also find even more resources on our North Africa and the Middle East Pinterest board:

August 4 Sand In My Toes on Multicultural Kid Blogs: 10 Fun Facts About the United Arab EmiratesAugust 8 A Crafty Arab: Jordan Craft Stick Flag TutorialAugust 15 Sand In My Toes: Wind Tower Craft (UAE)August 17 All Done Monkey: MENA Countries WorksheetsAugust 18 Tiny Tapping ToesAugust 21 Biracial Bookworms on Multicultural Kid BlogsAugust 23 Jeddah MomAugust 28 Crafty Moms ShareAugust 30 Creative World of Varya

Link Up Your Posts!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Posted in Classroom Music, Early Learning With Music, Ecology/Nature, First Instruments, Multicultural Music, Musical Crafts, Simple Instruments

Tagged Daria, Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Easiest Instruments For Children, Egypt instruments, Egypt kids crafts, green crafts for kids, homeschool music, kids crafts, kids music crafts, kids musical instruments, multicultural music, music crafts, nature crafts, Sistrum, sistrum rattle, unusual percussion, world music with daria

Make An Ocean Drum for World Oceans Day

Have you heard of World Oceans Day? Celebrated annually on June 8^th, it’s an internationally recognized and celebrated day to learn, share, preserve and promote one of our most magnificent resources, the oceans and seas.

The World Oceans Days website (link below) is a wealth of information – including research on pollution, posters in 15 languages, and a variety of action steps that anyone can take to make a difference. Visit the site to learn how oceans regulate our climate, generate most of the oxygen we breathe, clean the water that we drink and so much more.

Want to combine your learning with a fun recycled music craft? Here’s a way you can reduce, reuse, recycle and make a great homemade drum that sounds remarkably like the sea!

What Is An Ocean Drum?

If you live near the sea or have visited an ocean, you know the wonderful, relaxing sound of waves coming and going along the seashore. An ocean drum is a 2 sided hand drum that – when played – sounds just like the surf. In fact, if you close your eyes, you can imagine you are right there on the beach, hearing the waves as they come and go.

Above is a picture of a traditional ocean drum.

Make Your Own Recycled Ocean Drum

Check your recycling bin. Do you have a sturdy pizza box or a mailing box with dimensions somewhat like the one seen here? If you do, you can fill the bottom of the box with sand, salt, seed beads or any tiny pasta (like acini de pepe). There’s also some great ways to create a window to the drum, decorate the outside and seal the box so the contents don’t escape and you can use it for weeks to come.

Ocean Drum Tutorial Free

Want a step-by-step tutorial plus other great info on this drum and world music instruments? Until June 16^th, we’ve reduced the price of this great kids music resource to – free! (Note: If you read this post after June 16, 2017 and need a free educator’s copy, just contact daria at dariamusic at yahoo dot com for more info).

Links And Resources

Free Tutorial – MYO Ocean Drum – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ocean-Drum-Craft-1567951

World Oceans Day – Main Site – http://www.worldoceansday.org/

Find An Oceans Day Event Near You – http://www.worldoceansday.org/events_list

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Posted in Babies and Music, Early Learning With Music, Ecology/Nature, Family Fun, First Instruments, Music and Hearing, Musical Crafts, Simple Instruments

Tagged children’s musical instruments, Daria, Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Easiest Instruments For Children, green activities for kids, Green crafts, green crafts for kids, homeschool music, ocean activities for children, ocean activities for kids, ocean drum, world music with daria, World Ocean Day, World Ocean Day activities, World Ocean Day craft, World Ocean Day for kids, World Ocean Day resources, young children and music

Win The “Kids Around The World” Mama Lisa Songbook!

Have you read out enthusiastic review of our new favorite kid’s international songbook?

Well, we’re excited to say that – thanks to Mama Lisa’s World - we are giving away 2 digital copies of this amazing encyclopedia of 100 songs from diverse world cultures. That’s 352 awesome pages of songs, song descriptions, translations, sheet music and even details of how certain songs are used as games and activities.

Of course, we’d love for you to read the whole review here: http://www.tinytappingtoes.com/family-fun-2/a-trip-around-the-world-in-song/ but feel free to jump to the give-away and enter to win below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Posted in Babies and Music, Celtic Music, Chinese (Mandarin), Family Fun, Favorite Songs, Hawaiian Music, Kids Songs In German, Multicultural Music, Silly Songs

Tagged childrens music., give-aways, homeschool music, international music for kids, kids music, kids songbook, kids songs, Mama Lisa, Mama Lisa Songbook, Mama Lisa's World, multicultural music, musica infantil, playing music with young children, young children and music

A Trip Around The World In Song!

This is my new favorite international kids song songbook!

To be honest, I’ve been a huge fan of the website – Mama Lisa’s World – for years, so I was thrilled to be able to review this new compilation songbook. It has 100 songs from global cultures – including indigenous cultures – along with descriptions, sheet music, translations and notes on where to find MIDI and recorded version for listening. This book simply could not be more complete – or more fun!

Many of the songs that Lisa has selected are not just great songs, they are also games and offer wonderful ways to combine music, language and movement. Because translations come with each song, you can also easily start learning simple words and phrases in other languages as well.

Where does this songbook go? It opens in Africa with welcome songs, circle dances and call-and-response tunes. Next, the songbook goes to Asia, with songs of friendship, love and play. After that, you can find favorites from Australia and the islands of Oceania. In the songs selected from Europe, you’ll meet familiar characters like the Sandman and Little Red Riding Hood. Of course, there are also songs from North America, including an Iroquois lullaby as well as English and French Canadian songs. The book closes with songs from Central and South America, including music with roots in Hispanic, Afro-Hispanic and Indigenous cultures.

What more do you need to know? This is definitely a must-have songbook for anyone who loves children’s songs and world music! You can buy both digital copies or a full size physical copy at the links below.

Links And Resources

Digital Copy From Gumroad (352 Pages/5.64 MG/3.99) https://gumroad.com/l/GvQVT#

Kid Songs Around The World: A Mama Lisa Book (Physical Copy) From Amazon http://a.co/3mx1z0o

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Posted in African Music, Australian Music, Celtic Music, Family Fun, Favorite Songs, Hispanic Music, Holiday Songs, Homeschool Musical Fun, Kids Songs In German, Native American Music, Silly Songs

Tagged children and music, homeschool music, kids songs, Kids Songs Around The World, Lisa Yannucci, Mama Lisa, Mama Lisa Songbook, multicultural music, playing music with young children, world music for kids, young children and music

Take A Nature Walk – Make An Instrument!

Autumn is such a great time to take a nature walk with your child! Maybe you have a wooded backyard or a park nearby? Or perhaps there is a natural area near your home where you can enjoy the changing seasons.

As you take a walk in nature, look for any stick or small branch that’s formed in the shape of a “Y”. If you find one, you can take it home and make a wonderful little musical instrument that actually dates back to ancient Egypt.

What Is A Sistrum

Sistrums are rattles that are found all over the world. This clever little percussion instrument starts with some sort of forked object and then has a string or wire running between the two forks. On the strings or wires are objects that rattle and clank, making a lovely noise when shook back and forth. In ancient Egypt, sistrums was used as part of the Pharaoh’s court and can even be seen pictured in hieroglyphics!

Supplies

Small stick or branch
Sand paper (optional)
Sturdy twine or floral wire
Colorful yarn
Noise-making Objects – buttons, beads, jingles, paper clips,
Recycled noise-making objects – soda tabs, bottle caps, compressed bottle tops (our next post will show you how to make and use these safely to avoid sharp edges).

Start with the Stick!

Once you’ve found a sturdy stick or branch that’s shaped like the letter “Y”, you might want to take a bit of sandpaper and sand down any rough edges. Then take the sturdy twine or floral wire and secure it to one side of the “Y”. Now add any of rattling objects and hold the wire in place without wrapping it on the other side. Check to see if you like the sound it creates. If you do, then wrap the wire or twine securely in place. If not, experiment with adding or removing objects to get the sound you like.

Here’s a hint, less objects often make a more pleasing sound!

Add extra strings of noise-makers if you like.

Making It Unique

After creating the noise-making part of the rattle, you may wish to decorate the handle or the sides with colorful yarn, woven bands, electrical tape or even painting or adding other decorations. This is a very open-ended project and you can be very creative with it!

Learn About The History Of The Sistrum

If you want to tie this project into a study of world cultures, you can check out the Ancient Instruments of the Middle East kids music mini-course. Or simply have fun with the Egyptian coloring page. Links and other resources are below. Happy crafting and music-making!

Links and Resources

Free Coloring Page – Egyptian Sistrum https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Color-An-Ancient-Egyptian-Rattle-The-Sistrum-2166721

Ancient Instruments of the Middle East kids music mini-course https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ancient-Instruments-From-The-Middle-East-Mini-Lesson-2127995

Free Doumbek (Middle Eastern Drum) Poster and Coloring Page https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Middle-Eastern-Drums-Doumbek-Background-Coloring-Page-2049118

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Posted in African Music, Classroom Music, Early Learning With Music, Ecology/Nature, First Instruments, Homeschool Musical Fun, Multicultural Music, Simple Instruments, Special Needs/Kids of All Abilities

Tagged ancient Egypt, ancient Egypt instruments, childrens music., Daria, Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, DIY rattle, Easiest Instruments For Children, Easy Instruments kids, Green crafts, green crafts for kids, homeschool music, Music for children, MYO kids instruments, MYO rattle, MYO sistrum, nature crafts for kids, nature walk, nature walk crafts, Sistrum, world music with daria, young children and music

Tag Archives: homeschool music

Toenails of Goats – An Amazing Musical Instrument!

Make a Water Drum In Your Own Backyard

Ada’s Violin – Making Music From Trash!

Travel To Mongolia and Discover The Morin Khuur!

Play Music On The Porch – This Saturday!

Make Your Own Egyptian Sistrum!

Link Up Your Posts!

Make An Ocean Drum for World Oceans Day

Win The “Kids Around The World” Mama Lisa Songbook!

A Trip Around The World In Song!

Take A Nature Walk – Make An Instrument!

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