Brighton Park: Music Mondays: Make And Play Your Own Washboard

Music Mondays is an (almost) weekly series here at Brighton Park where we share great ways to add music to your home and homeschool. Today's Music Monday Series post is written by Award-winning children’s performer, DARIA. Daria Marmaluk-Hajioanno has seven cd’s that have won national honors. She has the most awesome job of traveling the world to sing for kids and peace. Her website; located at dariamusic.com, was given a 2009 Parents Choice Award for its rich variety of music and cultural content.

Musical Fun With A Household Object - Make And Play Your Own Washboard

There are lots of common items from around the house that can be used as part of your family’s musical fun. Many parents let their toddlers turn pots and pans into a makeshift drum kit. Two spoons can become a percussion instrument. Blowing across the tops of water bottles can create sounds like wind instruments. And then there’s the washboard. Whether you have one around your house or follow these easy instructions to make one, this simple instrument can have you singing a happy tune and exploring music in no time at all!

The Washboard As A Musical Instrument

Yes, a washboard is a real musical instrument. Also called a scrub board or a rub board, you can find washboards in several traditional types of American folk music such as cajun, zydeco, old timey and jug band music. Serious players usually rest the board against their chest and don a variety of thimbles on one or both hands to create some amazing rhythms by scratching back and forth over the ridges. When the washboard is played by a young child, it’s a good idea to replace the tiny thimbles with objects that are easier to hold such as plastic spoons and rest the washboard on their lap or on the floor in front of them.

Find Or Make A Washboard Many people have old-fashioned washboards around their house or garage - or have a grandparent or relative who can lend them one. You can often purchase a washboard for a small amount of money at yard sales, garage sales, hardware stores or online at the Red Hill General store. But if you can’t put your hands on an “actual” washboard, you can always create a homemade version that is equally fun for musical jams

A Crafty Homemade Washboard
Although you can find step-by-step instructions at the link below, making a homemade washboard is simple. Start with a sturdy piece of cardboard as the back and add some recycled manila folders. You’ll fold the file folders like a fan and use rubber bands to anchor them in place. Decorate any way you like and then it’s time to play.

Play A Washboard!

It’s a good idea to let a child play the washboard with one or two plastic spoons. They are easier to hold than the traditional thimbles and don’t pose a choking hazard. How do you play? Just rub the spoons back and forth over the ridges and see what sounds emerge. Rub up and down or create patterns such as “down, down up”. Or “down, up, down, up, down, down, up!” You get the idea!

Sing Along With A Washboard Song!

Once you begin playing patterns on your washboard, you’ll probably notice that some of the patterns sound like songs you know. For instance, the pattern: “down, down, up” fits perfectly to the song Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Pick out favorite songs you know and see if you can come up with patterns to accompany them.

Jamming With Family and Friends

What other ways can you explore your new instrument? You can change the sound of your washboard by rubbing it with other objects such as a metal spoon, a plastic hair pick, a chopstick, an unsharpened pencil or Q-tips. Play along with your favorite recordings or get a group of your friends together to create music. If you like, you can check out my cd called Grandchildren’s Delight and hear a washboard playing as percussion in songs such as Oh Susannah and Liza Jane. And what about getting your family together for an old-fashioned sing–along? Or you can see if your parents or siblings could add their own musical talents to create a family jam. Although the washboard is a simple household object, it can be a great first instrument to encourage young children to make and play music with those they love!