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I have two young boys who love music, though they often see my love of the guitar as competition for my attention. So I'm thinking of ways to include them in my own type of fun. Both are young (ages 4 and 7) and the older one has autism but both enjoy singing and banging away at things.

For the past year my younger son has been nearly addicted to the Animusic videos and turns everything into a percussion instrument. He bangs on the table with his fork and spoon, he pretends his fist is a drum and "beat boxes" all the time. Lately (with my guidance) he and I have been using his First Act guitar, a toy bongo and a plastic golf ball as a contraption similar to one depicted in one of the videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyCIpKAIFyo

As I type this I just had a mad thought of using his toy baseball batting machine along with it. Someone stop me before I start buying large amounts of PVC as I need to save up for wood for my next guitar build! I anything, using used cardboard TP and paper towel rolls might do in the meantime but in the future who knows? Maybe one day he and I will build one of these?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toXNVbvFXyk

BTW, I'm still trying to find ways to "engage" the autistic boy and have been curious about learning more about "music therapy". He's hyperactive with a very short attention span and destructive tendencies so he gets most of my attention, though the little guy is pretty devious about drawing attention to himself as well. Suffice it to say, both are not builders but I'm hoping this helps me to "shape" their limitless energies toward more productive means.

Neil,

If your son likes percussion, it might be cool to build one of these beat boxes. I've always wanted to make one of these and they look pretty straight forward. You could possibly build it in a day and start finishing the next.

http://www.pearldrum.com/Products/Percu ... ajons.aspx

Funny, Sean, Iw as thinking the same thing. I have built a bunch of them, still have a few actually, but they are very simple, and a lot of fun.

http://www.nocturnalguitars.com/Nocturn ... Cajons.php



This unit is made for hitting the front or the sides, if you want to use a base pedal while playing something else, but the whole project is a lot of fun. My kids love em, and they make great end tables when you need em too!

Very cool Ken. I think I might give it a go and make one of these things. One of my teachers in high school had one of these that he'd get out and play every so often and I really enjoyed it. They look pretty straight forward. Does one of your sides have a snare? That's cool.

Cool! If you have specs I'd love to give it a shot. No moving parts is good in my book! The local Guitar Center doesn't seem to carry those cajones thingies.

Neil,
Make him one of these (the simple version):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5dD4KkJcAw

Or get more eloborate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvMH1sAkIeU