TIP 1
Sing the songs the family likes most.
Family without children
Choose your favorite songs. Put the melody on and sing together, then do a detailed analysis of each song’s lyrics, meditating. Try to understand in depth what the lyric says by reading all the quoted Bible verses.
Family with children – teenagers
Ask each one to choose one or two favorite songs. Put the melody of one of them on some device and let the voice out. Divide into two groups, like girls and boys, and sing separate parts, alternating between one and the other. It’s also fun to do a second voice. Then, after you have sung with the melody, try to sing without it. Then, if you like, try singing without the melody or the lyrics. It’s a great exercise to memorize our favorite songs.
Family with children – children
Ask each member to choose a favorite song. If someone in your family knows how to play an instrument, ask them to accompany you, too. Otherwise, make instruments with your children and enjoy and study a little about the instruments of Bible times.
The instruments can be divided into three categories: string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments.
The string instruments were the harp, the lyre, and the lute. David played a stringed instrument to calm the soul of the anguished King Saul.
The wind instruments were the horn, or shofar, the trumpet, and the flute, or the fife. The Israelites used the shofar to gather troops for battle and to indicate to the people when to act.
The percussion instruments were the tambourine, the sistro (rattle), the cymbals, and the bells. The Israelites used various percussion instruments in the celebrations.
“…most important of all, they were used to worship the God who had blessed them with the gift of music.”
Below are some suggestions for easy and fun instruments to assemble with your children. Definitely they will like it!
How to make a string instrument?
Box guitar
Materials:
- 1 cardboard box (shoe box, cereal);
- 1 cardboard tube (paper towel roll, for example);
- Rubber bands (money rubber or any thin rubber band);
- Duct tape.
How to assemble:
Drill a hole in the top of the box, the size of the cardboard tube, and a larger one in the front of the box. Take the cardboard tube and make small vertical cuts at one end to pass the elastics. Place the cardboard tube in the hole at the top with the cuts facing up and secure with the tape. Then, pass the elastics between the cuts and around the box. Pass a piece of tape on the bottom of the box so that the elastics do not move. Okay, now just play it!
How to make a wind instrument
Flute
Materials
- 10 straws
- Duct tape
How to assemble:
Line up the ten straws side by side on top of a piece of tape, leaving a piece on the sides. Once aligned and glued, finish wrapping them with the leftover tape. With scissors, cut the top diagonally, leaving each straw a different size. Give preference to firmer straws. Now just blow it.
How to make a percussion instrument
Drum
Materials:
- 1 empty can
- 1 balloon
- 2 wooden spoons or 2 cardboard tubes.
How to assemble:
Cut the tip with the mouth of the balloon, take the largest part, and place it on the top of the can (the “mouth”). Okay, now just play it by hitting the balloon with your spoons!
Bonus
A super cool tip is to take an empty bottle, put enough toothpicks inside (not enough to fill it), and then throw in grains like quinoa or amaranth, or even sand. Your rain bottle is ready!
Now it is just take the lyrics and make the rhythm.
