How to make drums and play them
Learn how to make your very own drum kit with young drumming star Nandi Bushell. With just a few tin cans, balloons, rubber bands and sticks you too could master the art of drumming. Be inspired by Gold badge wearing legend Nandi and bang your own drums 🥁
- A clean and empty tin can
- A balloon
- Five rubber bans
- Colourful tape and stickers
- Scissors
- Two wooden sticks
- Two craft beads
- PVA glue
- A handful of rice
How to make your own drums
🚨 Get a grown-up to help you when handling sharp objects like scissors and sharp edges on the tin can 🚨
Grab your used tin can and make sure it clean. Some can openers create extremely sharp edges. Check your can is safe to use before starting to make this drum kit!
Add a handful of uncooked rice to the bottom of the tin - this will make a nice sound when the drum is hit.
Use the scissors to cut the balloon in half.
Carefully stretch the balloon over the top of the tin can.
Use a rubber band to secure the balloon lid onto the tin. Wrap the elastic bands around the tin until they are tight, to make sure the balloon stays in place when you hit it.
Now to decorate the tin! You can add tape and stickers to create your own unique style.
To make the drum sticks take a 30cm dowel/wooden stick and find a craft bead with the same size hole as the dowel. Put some PVA glue into the bead hole and push the stick in to secure and leave to dry.
Get creative and paint your drum sticks.
You're drums are all complete! Why don't you try giving Nandi's drum pattern a go, this is called the paradiddle, which goes: right, left, right, right, left, right, left, left. Think you can do it?!
💙 Enjoy your new musical instrument! 💙