Homemade Musical Instruments ~ Popsicle Stick Harmonica
Your kids will love making music with this simple DIY Popsicle Stick Harmonica. They are so easy to make. When my son saw instructions (not sure where) on how to create these simple homemade musical instruments, he rushed home to create his own.
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Popsicle Stick Harmonica Supplies
- 2 Popsicle Sticks ~ We used the wide ones
- 2 Rubber Bands ~ You could also use string
- A strip of paper the same size as the Popsicle Stick
- 2 toothpicks cut the width or just wider than the Popsicle Stick
How to assemble your DIY musical instrument:
- Sandwich the paper strip in between the 2 Popsicle Sticks
- Wrap a rubber band around one end until it is snug.
- Slide a toothpick to the inside of the rubber band.
- Sandwich the last toothpick at the other end of the Popsicle sticks, and wrap with a rubber band.
My son found it worked best when he placed one toothpick on top of the paper and one toothpick under the paper.
Now your all set to make some music. Simply blow or suck air to make a unique noise. You can also try pinching the Popsicle Sticks together to see what new noise you can create.
This is a simple project that your kids will have fun putting together. It only takes a few moments to assemble. There is something satisfying about creating your own toys.
Looking for more ideas your kids can create? Check out our:
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what a great idea! we will have to give this a try
I am always on the look out for musical projects – there are a ton of shakers and drums out there but this is unique! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, this is so cool! I am definitely trying this out.
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This is so unique! Can’t wait to try it! Thank you
oh my goodness! i have a faint memory of doing this from one of my hippie kiddo crafty books back in the 70s! completely floated away from me, love using the popsicle sticks! thank you for reminding and sharing the fun!
So fun! We had so much fun playing with these! I really have no idea where my son found the idea, who knows maybe it was from the same book:)
This is cute. It is the same thing that my daddy taught me to do with my thumbs and a grass blade. That’s what he did growing up in the 1920’s. The only thing is he used what he had–nothing but grass. Today’s kids do have a lot more stuff to create with. I’m glad you have pulled together these ideas to let them have fun doing something creative and not sitting all day in front of a monitor playing games.
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This was so fast and fun. It works perfectly and tickles your lips, hahaha.
My 6y.o. and I are enjoying our Popsicle stick harmonica
This looks awesome! I’m definitely going to try to make one.
How did you dit it? The stick?
Diy*
This was an awesome craft. It was such a unique idea and inexpensive too. My brownies made them last night at our meeting and it was for sure a hit. We only had plain sticks but they decorated them afterwards. They all worked and we even constructed an orchestrated version of a few of our favorite songs. Thanks for such a great idea!!
What a great idea! So proud of your son for taking the steps to try it at home. My best memory was when I was about 6 years old and I had to make a music instrument from household items for a school project. I was very poor and I was worried what my friends would think of an idea my Dad and I came up with. He took 3 pieces of trimming wood about 4to 5 inches long and nailed them together to make a triangle frame. On one end of the frame he cut a piece of chicken wire or something like that and we nailed it. The other end we used sand paper and I glued it down. He gave me an old hairbrush and a few items to strum the wire and I took it to school the next day. My teacher loved the idea and I got the best creative instrument. That was my proudest moment! And then came all the creativity afterwards. Just had to share! Thanks for sharing and I loved reading your ideas.
Oh my goodness Melissa, that sounds AMAZING! What a creative idea. Thanks so much for sharing.
Just made these- they are great!!! We skipped the rubber bands and toothpicks and just used a pipe cleaner, cut in half – for each half, fold over one inch at the end and twist to use in place of the toothpick, then wrap the rest around the “sandwich” to replace the rubber band!
Love this idea. Going to have it be one of the crafts at my children’s joint bday party. Did you get the Popsicle sticks already colored like that?
Thanks for this great idea! I love it!
I’ve got to ask what did you use for painting these Popsicles?
We have a make it and take it craft at the state fair. I am planning to do this project for the kids. I think it will be easy for them to make and not to bulky for them to carry with them
These were a very successful project! Lots of fun for my grandkids. However, the dye from the craft sticks is “bleeding” and turning their mouths colors! Is there something that is can be used to seal the sticks, that is safe for them to put in their mouths?
This is such a clever craft! Like one of the above posters, my dad taught me to do this with a blade of grass between my thumbs. LOL I would have never thought to try it with craft sticks.
I’m an 18 year old and I’m having fun with this by my self at home.