Homemade packing tape drum - Child's Play Music

http://childsplaymusic.com.au/ &   / childsplaymusicperth  . A very easy way to make a drum that sounds quite good. Using ordinary packing tape for the drum skin, you can make this drum in around ten minutes. This project is suitable for young children, and a 4 year old could make one with a little assistance from an adult.

For the drum shell you can use anything that is round, fairly rigid, and about 150mm or larger in diameter. A coffee can or a baby formula can works well, but for larger drums paint cans, PVC pipe, PVC containers, heavy cardboard tube (the stuff sold in hardware stores for forming concrete footings) all work well. You can even use an old car tyre to make a Taiko-style drum. Don't use a light plastic bucket - it must be fairly strong.

I would suggest making a number of these drums in different sizes so you have a good variety of drum sounds. The smaller drums (up to around 250mm) can be suspended on a loop of rope so children can play them while standing - instant marching band!

The drum skin will last a week or two of playing, less if you play hard (it doesn't sound any better if you whack it, so just go easy and it will hold up fine). Ordinary drumsticks are fine, as are chopsticks or hardwood dowel with the ends rounded off. You can also play it by hand.

Have fun!

Alec Duncan (B. Soc. Sci. Children Studies)
Child's Play Music