14 DIY Musical Instruments Kids Can Make at Home

Making instruments is one of the best ways to get kids excited about music — it blends art, play, and real musical concepts like beat, pitch, and dynamics. Here are 14 easy DIY musical instruments kids can make at home or in the classroom. (Looking for things to actually play once you're done? Our color-coded bells, glockenspiels & boomwhackers are built for little hands.)

1. Wacky Guitar Craft

A cardboard guitar from Yellowbobbypins Art Camp. You'll need white cardboard or foam board, ribbon or yarn, four small cardboard pieces (bridge, headstock, fret board), scissors, an X-acto knife, hot glue, and craft supplies to decorate.

2. Can Drums

Practice keeping a steady beat on a homemade drum — great for playing along to songs. Tutorial from It's Always Autumn.

3. Rainbow Tambourine

Decorate the front and back and add bells for instant musical fun. See Kids Craft Room. (Supervise little ones with small parts.)

4. Egg Maracas

So fun you'll want a whole set — and a great Easter activity too. From Made Everyday.

5. Rain Sticks

Change what's inside to make it as loud as a rainstorm or as soft as a drizzle — a lovely intro to dynamics. From The Mad House.

6. Rhythm Shaker

Fill a bottle with colorful beads and add streamers. See Kids Craft Room.

7. Hand Drum

Spin it between your palms to play. Ideas from Moms & Crafters.

8. Towel Tube Kazoos

Adorable and full of funny noises. From Today's Parent.

9. Microphone

Set up a stage and let your little rock star shine. Glowing mic from I Heart Crafty Things.

10. Painted Stick Instrument

Go on a nature hunt for sticks, then add shells or beads. From Red Ted Art.

11. Water Xylophone

Doubles as a science experiment — fill glasses with different water levels to explore pitch. From Pars Caeli.

12. Straw Flute

A pan-flute made from straws. From Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational.

13. Thumb Piano

Yes, you can play piano with your thumbs! Made with spare bobby pins. YouTube tutorial from Thrifty Fun.

14. Monster Castanets

Cardboard + bottle caps = adorable castanets. From Krokotak.

From homemade to real music-making

DIY instruments are a wonderful spark — and when your kids are ready to play real songs, Prodigies makes it easy. Our color-coded lessons let kids play by following colors, long before they read notation. Great next steps: our music activities for toddlers and music activities for preschoolers.

🎵 Start making real music → play.prodigies.com/join

Enjoy creating your very own instruments with the kiddos, and as always, happy musicing!