One of my favorite, yet most challenging, music therapy groups is in connection with SOAR (Special Opportunities Available in Recreation), a wonderful program in our city for individuals with special needs. We are currently finishing up our 2nd year with this group! We have a wide range of individuals with a wide range of abilities and personalities and it makes for a GREAT time! I say challenging, because my expertise or largest knowledge-base lands with early childhood, but with every great challenge comes an amazing reward, and this group is proof of that.
Our Music Experience provides participants with opportunities to learn about, make and listen to music (both live and recorded). After a few trial and error sessions (this is not my most comfortable population), we settled on a great “Music Around the World” theme and the participants are THRILLED!
Most of the sessions include a traditional song or chant, dance, and an opportunity to play or simulate a traditional instrument.
Most recently, we traveled to Australia and participated in a really great and super inexpensive instrument DIY! In fact, each of my participants went home with a 5 ft. Didgeredoo, which we made for under $7!
Want to make your own?! Follow these simple directions, which allows for TWO and go to town!
Materials:
PVC Pipe 1 1/2″ in diameter and 5′ in length. We bought ours at our local Home Depot and it came in 10′ lengths. We had it cut down to 5′ lengths.
2 Couplings, 1 1/2″ in diameter
2 Bushings, 1 1/2″ in diameter
Duct Tape (Your choice)
Anti-bacterial Wipes
Instructions:
1. After having the pipe lengths cut by the wonderful folks at your local hardware store, make sure to clean up the ends. We wouldn’t want to inhale the PVC shavings… yuck! We used a utility knife and just scraped out the insides.
2. Using the antibacterial wipes, give each pipe a nice cleaning. Wipe down as necessary.
3. Attach the coupling (this is the part that connects the pieces), to the NON-cut end of the PVC (another nice way to NOT inhale those shavings).
4. Insert the bushing (which will be your mouthpiece) into the coupling and voila! An assembled didgeredoo!
5. Using Duct Tape (or other materials you like) decorate your digderidoo.
6. Play your didgeridoo! Loose lips and steady air!
Happy Music-Making!
