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Hi folks, my 9 year old announced that she has to make a musical instrument for a class project that can be made with parental assistance. It’s due on Nov 9th.   Given I am away most weeks that gives us a couple of weekends. Any ideas, suggestions? I would be most grateful for your thoughts.

I built a bass kalima out of plywood and metal strapping tape. It took about a weekend. I used
This plan..
Mike Mahar38653.7173958333

I'd go for a cigar box ukelele. Check with John Mayes for his DVD.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Anthony,
I'm building a cigar box uke right now based off of John Mayes DVD. I think you could do it by then. I'm got an extra cigar box for you if you want one. I can overnight it to you if you need it quick to get started. I bet you have enough scrap laying around to make it. The most expensive piece is the tuners if you want something nice. I ordered mine from hanalima.com. I also got my fretboard from them already slotted for a 13 1/2" scale. Let me know if you need any more information. I'm planning on putting up the whole build on my website when I'm done. Good luck!
Tracy

   Hey Anthony
check this out a simple uke but they are a great starter kit
http://www.grizzly.com/products/items-list.aspx?key=235040&s ort=price
    I think this is a great project for that age bracket
john tippie5338654.8670717593

How about a cardboard dulcimer? One piece of wood for the fret board, some cardboard, glue down some finishing nails for the frets, fishing line for the strings, and screw eyes for the tuners. It will look like a homemade project, yet still be functional. It your kid takes in something too nice it will be obvious that you did the work and not them. Remember that this is a project for the kid to learn something. As a school teacher, I hate to see projects that look like Dad or Mom did all of the work.

In addition to easy construction, it will be easy to learn a few easy songs.
Here is a link:
Cardboard Dulcimer

Lego set.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

There is also Music Makers Kits. They have all sorts of carboard instruments. Music Makers Kits

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Hi guys thanks for all the great suggestions! Tracy also many thanks for your offer to ship a box. Well given our time constraint and the need for the project to be mostly built by my daughter, we went with a D Fife (read Piccolo) made from 0.5" I.D. CPVC pipe from Home Depot.

If we would have had more time it would have been fun to build a Kalimba, Cigar Box Uke or a cardboard dulcimer. I think I'll get my daughters to build a cigar box uke at some point as they are getting bored with sanding necks, shellacing the inside of guitar bodies.....

Thanks again -- its very much appreciated.

Good call, Anthony. Keep it simple. Another fast and cheap instrument is a tubular glockenspiel. It's made from 1/2" steel conduit cut to various lengths. You can tune the notes by trimming the tubes. It sounds horrible. I made one for a buddy's kids for a Christmas present. The kids loved it.