DIY Paper Tube Xylophone
Get your kids excited about exploring music by making your own paper tube xylophone. Or, make a few and start your own xylophone band!
What You’ll Need
- Paper tubes of various sizes (paper towels, toilet paper, etc.)
- Acrylic paints
- Craft knife, box cutter or scissors
- Cardboard
- Rubber bands or hair ties
- Glue
- Chopsticks
What You’ll Do
- Cut 6-8 paper tubes in varying sizes, each measuring an inch less in length than the previous tube.
- Paint each tube a different color.
- Create the underside of your xylophone frame by lining up all of your paper tubes in order. You should end up with a trapezoid shape. Measure the total length and width and cut a large piece of cardboard to match your measurements.
- Measure and cut four one-inch-high pieces of cardboard to surround the frame. Secure the pieces with glue to the frame underside piece.
- Secure the paper tubes together with rubber bands. For a secure fit, connect each tube to its neighbor by twisting the rubber band in a figure eight pattern, and using a rubber band on both the top and bottom of each tube. Repeat until all tubes are connected.
- Place the tubes inside the xylophone frame. If it doesn’t fit tightly, use a small amount of glue to attach it.
- Use chopsticks as drumsticks and explore the different sounds the paper xylophone makes.
What Kids Learn
How to Support the Play
- Remember: There is often more than one “right way” of doing things.
- When a child asks for help, guide without taking over. Nudge them along with suggestions framed as questions. “What would happen if…?”
- Avoid imposing one right way of doing things!