In the backyard, lay down a blanket for a stage and set some chairs in a semicircle. Drag out whatever musical instruments you have on hand, including homemade versions and pots, pans and spoons. When the orchestra's assembled, get out the portable stereo and crank up some rousing selections--"Yankee Doodle," "The Stars and Stripes Forever," and so on--encouraging everyone to play along. As a finale, let the youngest musician lead a grand procession around the backyard, ending with a round of juice and cookies--and generous applause.
TRASH CAN DRUM
Young percussionists might like marching to the beat of this trash can drum, adapted from RUBBER-BAND BANJOS AND A JAVA JIVE BASS by Alex Sabbeth (John Wiley & Sons).MATERIALS
Small trash can or bucket
Canvas remnant
Duct tape
String
Spray bottle filled with water
Length of rope
2 wooden spoons or sticks
Cut a square of canvas 4 inches larger than the diameter of the trash can and lay it across the top of the can so that the edges hang evenly over the rim. Tape the corners of the canvas to the can (alternating sides to get it as tight as possible), then tape any loose edges down, pulling the drumhead tight as you do so. Tie a string just below the can's rim for reinforcement. To tighten the drumhead, spray the canvas with water and then let it dry. Knot a length of rope around the rim, then tie the ends to create a shoulder loop. Finally, you can play with two wooden spoons or sticks, or with your hands.
