What is maracas and how to do it?

The musical instrument marakas has been known for many centuries. This is a traditional shock-and-noise instrument of the Taino Indians, the indigenous inhabitants of the Antilles. Now maracas are especially popular in Latin America and have become an integral part of local music.

Usually a person who plays maracas uses 2 instruments at once: one in each hand.

Maracas in the old days

Initially, the maracas were made from dried fruits of the calabash tree. The fruits of this tree, called "iguero", reach a length of 35 centimeters. Therefore, they were used not only for making maracas, but also for dishes.

In order to make maracas, they took the fruits of a regular round shape. The technology of making a musical instrument was quite simple. In the fruit, two holes were made, the soft middle was removed. Next, the fruit was dried, and seeds or pebbles were placed inside. Each instrument had its own unique, unique sound, and all because the amount of filler in each fruit was different. At the final stage, a handle was attached to the maracas.

Maracas are still popular in many countries around the world. Their production has not changed much. And now you can find these musical instruments made of iguero, pumpkin or even skin. Of course, they are also produced from modern materials, primarily from plastics.

How to make maracas at home

Now that we've figured out what a maracas is, you can experiment and try to make it yourself. By the way, maracas are used not only as a tool providing interesting musical accompaniment, but also as a rattle for children. Long ago, people noticed that the pleasant noise created by the processed fruits of the iguero, is able to interest and calm even the most active fidgets.

Below are tips on how to make maracas with your own hands.

To make this kind of musical instrument we will need:

• Colorful eggs from plastic (you can use a kinder-surprise);
• Any cereal (buckwheat, rice, millet) or beans (peas, soybeans, mung beans); You can use beads or beads;
• An even number of disposable spoons;
• White scotch tape;
• Markers or acrylic paints for decoration.

We make a musical instrument in stages

We make maracas at home.

1. Open the eggs and fall asleep inside the croup or beads.
2. We glue two plastic spoons on the sides with a white adhesive tape. At the first variant, gently glue the spoons with one even white line, dividing the egg into 2 halves.
3. In the second variant, cover the whole egg together with spoons with white insulating tape. Try to make the surface as flat as possible.
4. Using paint or markers, decorate the surface of maracas.
5. You can sprinkle the surface with sequins or beads using glue.

All is ready. Now the child knows what a maracas is and how to make it. To fix the material, let him try to make the second maracas himself.

Maracas from coconut

In order to find out what a maracas is in its original form, we will need to exert a little more effort. And all because we have to make a tool out of coconut. In principle, the technology is the same as the previous version with eggs. The difference is only in the decoration of coconut.

We need:

• coconut;
• Beads, beads, dried corn or any other filler;
• Glue for wood;
• sandpaper;
• Hacksaw for wood;
• acrylic paints;
• Beads, sequins, or other decor elements;
• rope.

The manufacturing instructions are as follows:

1. Separate the top of the coconut with a hacksaw. This is where the holes are.
2. Sandpaper, treat the surface of coconut and apex, which was separated.
3. Pour the filler into the nut.
4. In the cover, pierce two holes and pass through them a rope or tape.
5. Now it remains only to glue the two parts with glue.
6. Coat the surface of the coconut again.
7. Decorate the maracas with beautiful patterns or decor elements. Alternatively, make a maracas handle from a wooden stick. Then one hole is made in the lid, so that the diameter is suitable for the handle. And with the help of glue all parts are connected.

Make a pair of tools. That's what interesting we got maracas. The photos presented in the article demonstrate this tool.

Let your creature dry up - and you can start playing and dancing. The product is suitable for handmade gifts.

Now you know what maracas are and how to make it yourself.