Drop-in Art Studio Projects

Children can make their very own maracas and rainsticks in the Art Studio and take the music home.

In addition to making their own musical instruments, children can join drummer Martin Espino from 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at Kidseum to participate in a family drumming circle. Recommended for ages 2-8! Martin will teach children the basics of drumming and music. Then children particpate in the indigenous Mixican drumming circle and sound great!

Did you know that music activates different parts of the brain, including areas that control language skills. Studies also show that music can elevate our emotional state, increase our ability to focus, and strenghten math skills!

Rainsticks are ceremonial musical instruments used to invoke the rain spirits. They are made by people who live in the deserts of northern Chile. In Chile, rainsticks are traditionally made from dead cactus tubes with hundreds of cactus spines hammered into the tube. Tiny lava pebbles cascade gently through the tube, sounding much like rain.

The rainstick we will create is definitely not traditional but much safer for kids. It is made from a cardboard tube (instead of the dried cactus) and aluminum foil (in place of cactus spines).

The Latin American maracas are traditionally made form dried out gourds. Kidseum maracas will be created with decorated water bottles, but they are just as fun to shake!