Children love music, at least most of them. You can make these absolutely fun musical instruments using yogurt cups for your children to move and dance. They will surely love them, especially after spending a few moments making them. There is just something special about homemade, and children appreciate the time taken by parents doing simple projects together. True you may have to talk a bit, but have fun in the moment. Above all, you can build your relationship with your child and their admiration for you as their role model.
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Here are a few instruments you can do with your collection of yogurt cups, using simple materials that you may already have around the house. And of course, your children can put their own fun twist on their instrument.
These come in quite handy for regular playtime, family dance times, small group activities, and children’s ministry. You can make them simple or have children can go a step further and decorate them if you have the time along with a few extra dollars you don’t mind spending on stickers and other craft supplies that you choose.
Here’s the short list of these absolutely fun simple musical instruments using yogurt cups.
Hand Held Finger Drum From Yogurt Cups
This absolutely fun simple mini taboo drum is lots of fun and very easy to make. Your children can enjoy playing it with their figure tips or using a small pair of sticks. It’s super easy to hold and dance around to the music for the smallest child.
You’ll Need
2 Yogurt cups
Electrical Tape
¾ inch clear tape
Krazy glue
Drum Sticks (Optional)
Two small dowels for drum sticks
2 beads with holes large enough for stick to fit the dowel
Here Is Your Simple Guide
Simple Guide # 1
Remove ink from cups if you wish to paint them – See How Here. Skip this step if you just prefer to cover the print with electrical tape.
Simple Guide # 2
Take one cup and place ¾ inch clear tape over the mouth of the cup from one end to the other. Be sure to leave at least half in over the edge to ensure tape stays in place. Rotate till entire mouth is covered. Repeat two times then test sound using fingers. This is the result you should get.
Simple Guide # 3
Cover each cup with electrical tape. Choose different colors for each if you like. Each time you wrap the tape around the cup you would have to cut the tape and then add the next row of tape. Repeat until you are done covering the cups.
Be sure to start and end at the same point so that it’s nice a neat. It should look like this when you are done.
Simple Guide # 4
Use a few drops of Krazy glue to stick both cups together at the base (children should not use this glue.)
Simple Guide # 5
Wrap electric tape around the center where cups come together to reinforce where cups are stuck and also to hide that area. I used a different color tape just to show how it should look, but feel free to use the same color.
Simple Guide # 6
Drum stick (Optional)
Using wood glue or regular Elmer’s glue (if you don’t have wood glue), stick beads to the end of the two short (½ centimeter in diameter) dowel rods and allow them to dry
You’re done
Super easy super quick and tons of fun for toddlers. If you wish to make your drums a little larger you can use family-size Yoplait yogurt containers. It’s the very same process and just as much fun. Try them and comment below to let me know how it goes. And there is more fun with yogurt cups too. Check it out Here!
Absolutely Fun Simple Musical Instruments Using Yogurt Cups # 2 – Hand Bell
This fun simple handbell is a special one, and a favorite probably because of the bell. Of course, it’s lots of fun and very easy to make. Yes, it can be a bit noisy but promises to be enjoyable. Another super easy to hold and dance around with and your toddler will definitely love it.
You’ll need
1 Yogurt cups
1 short ½ centimeter dowel
12” piece of ribbon
2 beads with hole large enough for stick to fit
One craft bell (1 inch diameter)
Wood glue
Simple Guide # 1
Remove ink from the cup. Check this post to see this easy method that uses 2 household items you most probably already have. You can skip this and use the cup just as it is.
Simple Guide # 2
Carefully make a hole in the cup large enough for the stick to fit. An ice pick is a good option to do this. Heat the edge up to make the hole.
Simple Guide # 3
Thread the bell onto the ribbon and tie a knot to secure it. Use a thick ribbon, since the edges of the bell can cut through thinner ribbons over a short time of using the bell.
Simple Guide # 4
Add wood glue to the end of the dowel insert the bead and allow it to dry.
Simple Guide # 5
Place the dowel and ribbon through the hole made in the cup. You may want to do the ribbon first then the dowel. It should look like this when you are done.
Simple Guide # 6
With the ribbon flat, add some wood glue just above the ribbon and add a bead to help stabilize the handle. The bell is on the ribbon, so if you wish to skip this step and just tie a knot and bow. But it’s better with the bead.
Simple Guide # 7
All to dry then tie a bow. Your toddler will love it. The tinkling bell can be soothing depending on how it is played of course or lots of noise and fun
MORE MUSICAL FUN!
DIY DRUM SET FOR ENERGETIC KIDS
Absolutely Fun Simple Musical Instruments Using Yogurt Cups # 3 – Shaker
This one is more common, the simplest of them all, and of course, it’s lots of fun. As always very easy to make. Yes, it is, fun and a bit noisy, and you guessed it, great to hold and dance around with.
You’ll need
2 Yogurt cups
Electrical Tape
1 tbsp. rice and dried peas, and pieces of scrap foil rolled into balls
Simple Guide # 1
Place rice and peas and foil balls in one cup then cover the cup with the mouth of another cup. You can add a small bit of Krazy glue if you are getting trouble holding it while you are taping it, but it is not a requirement to keep cups together.
Simple Guide # 2
Cover the first cup with the mouth of another cup. Hold cups carefully and use electrical tape to secure cups together, wrap tape over then under the cups to create a simple pattern, and also hold cups securely together.
It should look like this.
You’re done
Super easy super quick and tons of fun shaking to their favorite song. Try it and comment below
MORE DIY FUN FOR YOU!
HOW TO MAKE A DRY ERASE BOARD WITH HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
Absolutely Fun Simple Musical Instruments Using Yogurt Cups # 4 – Maracus
Now to sum up the maracas, simple and fun. Similar to the handbell but yet different altogether. And yes like all the others it’s a whole lot of fun, fun, fun, and tremendously easy to hold and dance around with.
You’ll need
1 Yogurt cups
1 short dowels
Electric Tape
A plastic circle
Dried lentil peas
6 beads
Wood Glue
Krazy Glue
Simple Guide # 1
Carefully make a hole in the bottom of the yogurt cup. You can use an ice pick that you heat the edge up to do this.
Simple Guide # 2
Stick two of the beads to the end of the dowel using wood glue and allow to dry thoroughly. Once dried place through the hole you made in the cup.
Simple Guide # 3
Add wood glue to the stick just above the cup and allow the next two beads to slide down the stick and allow to dry thoroughly. Ensure that bead is not too much bigger than the dowel you choose but fits close to exact.
Simple Guide # 4
Fill the cup with peas
Simple Guide # 5
Add krazy glue and cover cup with plastic circle that you cut out. Allow to dry.
Simple Guide # 6
Using the electric tape – add tape from one end to the next. Cover the entire cup with tape you can use two different colors to create a nice pattern.
Simple Guide # 7
Once you cover the top, wrap the sides with electric tape. Using the same method as the handheld drums. It should look like this once you are done
Fun Simple Musical Instruments Using Yogurt Cups
There you have it. Your very own Absolutely Fun Simple Musical Instruments Using Yogurt Cups that you can have fun making with your children. Or you can surprise them and make them in advance and just enjoy watching them dance to the tune of the music they make with their homemade instruments.
Thank you so much for sticking around and reading this post. As always don’t forget to add a comment below, love it and share it. And let me know other instruments you tried with your collection of yogurt cups.
Stay safe and Blessings always
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