The angels rejoiced at Creation (Job 38:4-7). They sang again at the birth of Christ (Luke 2:13-14). From earliest Bible times music played an important role in the life of man as well. It is recorded that Jubal, in the eighth generation from Adam, “was the father of all such as handle the harp and pipe” (Gen 4:21). Music in Bible times was sometimes joyful and sometimes meditative, but always it was meaningful.
David was an accomplished harpist who wrote many psalms, and four thousand praised the LORD with and for him (1 Chron 23:5). As king, he organized the music which would be used in the temple, and designated the leaders: “David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals” (1 Chron 25:1) In addition to vocalists who sang psalms and dancers who praised God in the dance, there were instrumentalists who played harps, flutes, pipes, drums, and other percussion instruments. The trumpet was also an important instrument that was used on many special occasions.
Here are some musical instruments that your Sunday schoolers will have fun making. Once they are ready to go, the children can use them over and over to act out Bible stories and play their favorite Bible songs.
Kazoo trumpet
- Cut an eight-inch diameter circle from card stock. Cut a slit to the center.
- Overlap the edges of the slit to form a cone and fasten.
- Place a paper towel tube over the top of the cone and use it to draw a pencil line around the outside of the cone. Cut a few slits from the top of the cone to the pencil line and bend them out to form tabs.
- Tape a piece of waxed paper firmly over one end of the paper towel tube to create a diaphragm.
- Insert the diaphragm end of the tube into the bell and tape down the tabs.
- Decorate the trumpets and start making music. It won’t take the children long to master the technique of producing a melody through the vibrating diaphragm.
Jingle bells tambourine
- Punch several holes in the lip of a large plastic lid.
- Use a colorful ribbon to string jingle bells around the outside of the lid. Bells can be purchased by the bag at a craft store.
Decorate the surfaces of the tambourines and the children are ready to add rhythm and joy to their songs and dances.
Drum
Coffee cans with lids make good drums. Decorate the cans with spray paint or fabric, and the children have another rhythm instrument to add to the growing collection. A spoon makes a good drumstick, or they may just want to beat the drum with their hands.
Button cymbals
- Two large buttons and two pieces of colorful yarn are all the children need to create this rhythm instrument.
- If using thumb and index finger is hard for the children, tie two or three buttons to fingers on each hand and let them clap the buttons together.
Shakers
Rectangular spice cans with lids make fun shakers. Decorate the cans, insert a few pebbles, and start keeping time with the rhythm of a Bible song or dance.
Rhythm blocks
Two small pieces of two-by-four are all that is needed to create rhythm blocks. The children can clap them together. For added effect, glue a piece of sandpaper on each block and the children can clap or rub the blocks together.
Harp
A shoe box gets this instrument started. Cut openings in the lid and sides as shown in the picture. Stretch three large rubber bands around the box, elevating them slightly from the lid with two pencils or small pieces of wood. Rubber bands of different thicknesses and tensions produce different pitches. The kids will have fun making these harps twang.
A word of thanks is in order to Carol Linsenmeier and an unidentified contributor for the material of this article. Happy music making.
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
(Psa 95:1-3).
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