Creating an orchestra

The things we do for our children.  Our oldest son has been obsessed with musical instruments for some time now.  He creates all sorts of scenarios involving instruments and insists we play along.  He received his first play dough for Christmas and immediately wanted to make instruments from it.  Or, I should say, he wanted mom and dad to make instruments from it.  He has been known to sit at the kitchen table for two hours playing with these creations and gets so much joy from them.  One night my husband suggested we make some more permanent play things from polymer clay.  So, for the last two nights, after the kids were in bed, we have been creating an orchestra.  Our band consists of a piano, xylophone, violin, cello, bass, cymbals, tambourine, bongo and snare drum (with drumsticks), clarinet, saxophone, flute, trumpet and bassoon. 

My husband is a very fussy creator and took great pains to make his instruments near perfect. 

I took a bit more relaxed approach (except when the yellow clay proved too soft to work with easily). 

All look like they stepped out of a Dr. Seuss book.  We had fun working together on this project and can’t wait to see our son’s reaction tomorrow.  Knowing him, he will probably come up with new and imaginative ways to play with them.

Update on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 3:51PM by Julie Bowersett

Three new instruments joined the band:  banjo, accordion and rainstick!