- Choose a long, thin tube to use. Either PVC or cardboard works well. If you're using PVC, smooth the entire PVC pipe using a fine sanding sponge.
- Draw dots on the tube. These will mark the places where you'll create holes to build your rainstick.
- Drill the dots with a drill bit that corresponds with the size of your skewers. ...
- Insert the skewers. Dab the end of a wooden skewer with Gorilla glue or another sturdy glue and insert it into a hole.
- Leave the rainstick to dry. Wait about an hour before finishing your rainstick.
- Smooth the sides. Sand off the nubs left from the skewers with a flat file or some sandpaper.
- Insert an endcap. Cover one end of the tube with a plastic, PVC or cardboard cap, so that the pebbles and other materials don't fall out.
- Fill the tube with pebbles and other materials. Pour in pebbles, dried rice, dried beans, beads, and other materials of your choice.
- Finish the rainstick. After the desired sound is found, glue the other cap onto the end of the rainstick.
- Decorate the rainstick. Use ModPodge (or an equivalent decoupage substance) to paint the rainstick evenly.
- Admire its beauty and do a rain dance! What if we use pebbles? Pebbles will work as well, but you should clean them off before using.
How do you make a rain stick?
Method 1 Method 1 of 2: Bamboo Rainstick Download Article
- Choose a piece of bamboo. You'll get the best sound if you choose a wide, long piece of dry bamboo. ...
- Hollow the bamboo. If your bamboo piece isn't already hollow, use a metal rod to push out the material at its center.
- Make a pattern of dots on the bamboo. ...
- Drill the holes. ...
- Insert the skewers. ...
- Allow the glue to dry. ...
- Smooth the sides. ...
- Make end caps. ...
What is the Native American rain stick used for?
The rain stick remains in use today in Native American culture and is present for both sale and use at powwows and other tribal gatherings. It has also been adopted by non-indigenous cultures and is often utilized as a soothing tool for meditation and music production.
How do you make rain sticks?
- If you want to decorate the tube, do so before you insert the toothpicks.
- Use a sewing needle or push pin to poke holes at random intervals into the side of the tube. ...
- Insert a toothpick through one hole and out another. ...
- Coat both ends of each toothpick with a dab of glue.
- Once the glue is dry, cut off the pointed ends with a pair of cutting pliers.
What sound does a rain stick make?
Rainsticks were originally made to create the sound of a rain storm and it was believed that they could bring rainstorms. A rainstick is held at a 45 degree angle allowing the beads to fall gradually to create the sound of falling rain.
How are real Rainsticks made?
Rainsticks are usually made from any of several species of cactus such as Eulychnia acida and Echinopsis pachanoi. The cacti, which are hollow, are dried in the sun. The spines are removed, then driven into the cactus like nails. Pebbles or other small objects are placed inside the rainstick, and the ends are sealed.
What are rain sticks made of?
The rain stick is a musical instrument from South America. Traditionally, rain sticks are made from the wood skeleton of a cactus. First, the thorns are pulled off and pushed back through the soft flesh of the cactus. Then the cactus is left in the sun to dry--with the thorns on the inside.
How do you make Aboriginal Rainsticks?
Step 1Create an extra long cardboard roll by joining two of the long cardboard rolls together with tape. ... Step 2Paint the rainstick with Aboriginal inspired designs. ... Step 3Fold black paper over the end of your rainstick and secure it in place by wrapping a piece of yarn around the paper.More items...
Where are Rainsticks made?
Many of the rain sticks sold today come from the Diaguita peoples of northern Chile and Argentina. The Diaguita in Chile occupy the Atcama desert, one of the most arid regions in the world. Rain sticks from this region are made by inverting the pins of the capado cactus back into the dried stalk.
What is inside Native American rain stick?
Rain sticks are usually made from dried cactus, reeds, or bamboo and then filled with pebbles or beans. It is believed that they were used by indigenous farming tribes in arid climates with the hopes of calling for rain for their crops.
How old are rain sticks?
Rain sticks were popularized by Mexican and Peruvian music in the 1960s. They may have been used in rain-making ceremonies by Indigenous farming communities.
How do you make a ceramic rain stick?
0:0512:01How to make a ceramic rainstick - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're gonna fold it three quarters of the way up. So there's a little seam. And then you're goingMoreYou're gonna fold it three quarters of the way up. So there's a little seam. And then you're going to staple the edges with a stapler. And this will hold all your beads.
How are Aboriginal dot paintings made?
Within the Dot painting style, Aboriginal artists may overlap or 'enclose' dots within other larger dots, or they may be closely joined to give the appearance of lines, and even dotted so densely that they create a flat coloured area - however to be a 'dot' painting, the dotting method must still be visible.
How do you make a homemade Rainmaker?
0:042:00DIY How To Make a Rainmaker DIY Rainstick - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen we'll put a little bit of rice. Inside so now we're going to seal. It with our other piece ofMoreThen we'll put a little bit of rice. Inside so now we're going to seal. It with our other piece of paper.
Why do aboriginals use rain sticks?
It is believed that Rain Sticks were used by indigenous farming tribes in arid climates with the hopes of calling for rain for their crops. They were often made from dried cacti, bamboo or hollow reeds then filled with pebbles or beans, and beautifully painted with beautiful patterns.
How do you make a bamboo rain stick?
2:033:40Make a Rainstick - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse a sturdy pair of scissors or a small hand saw to cut the skewer flush against the bamboo stick.MoreUse a sturdy pair of scissors or a small hand saw to cut the skewer flush against the bamboo stick. Continue inserting skewers and cutting the ends until each hole has been filled.
Is a rainstick an African instrument?
Learn about the African Rainstick and why it's a great craft to make for young kids. The African Rainstick is an iconic musical instrument that's been used in schools for years and years. We have learned from it and recreated DIY versions of the rain stick in many different ways.
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The Sound of Rain
Water is our most precious resource. Without it, no life can survive. Ancient cultures that make their homes in arid regions developed spiritual ceremonies to pray for rain. American Indian tribes developed a host of materials for rain-making ceremonies, including headdresses, costumes, dances, and the rain stick.
How Are Rain Sticks Made?
Traditional rain sticks can be made from various materials from the natural environment. They reflect the needs and resources of the culture from which they arise.
Where Are Rain Sticks From?
The history of the rain stick is shrouded in mystery. What's most clear is that this musical instrument was used in traditional cultures as a ritualistic device. In cultures across the globe, it has been used in rain-making ceremonies for centuries. Nobody knows what country it originally came from.
What is a Rain Stick?
What is a rainstick? A rain stick is a percussion instrument or idiophone from Central and South America. The rainstick instrument is a long tubular instrument that belongs to the rattle family. Although it's considered a shaken idiophone, it's not actually shaken when it's played.
Inside of a Rain Stick
What is on the inside of a rainstick? Although the rain stick is a hollow tube, it's not empty. Spikes are pushed from the outside of the tube into the middle. The spikes are arranged in a spiral pattern that runs from the top of the rain stick to the bottom. When pellets travel down the tube, they hit the spikes, creating the rain sound.
How are Rain Sticks Made?
Rain sticks are made from the natural elements from which they originate. Traditional rain sticks are made in Northern Chile by the Diaguita people. They make their rain sticks out of a large flowering cactus called the Eulychnia Acida. When the cactus dies, the long thorns fall off. These thorns are then pounded through the hollow cactus shell.
Rain Stick Origin
What is the rainstick history? No one has been able to prove where the rain stick originated. But it may be that the idea began simultaneously in many different regions worldwide. The rain stick probably started as a tubular or a stick rattle.
