How to Make a Box Violin

A box violin can be a very fun way to acquaint a young 2 or 3 year-old child with the violin, without taking the risk of he or she breaking a real violin. These cardboard box violins are very simple and easy to make. Once they are made, you can teach your child about the parts of a violin, how to hold the violin, and how to stand still. You can also play many fun games that teach beginner rhythms to give your child a great musical start.

You will need:

1. A small cardboard box. I have used a Cracker Jack box, macaroni and cheese box, or this “make-your-own-coffee-pod” box. As long as your box is approximately that size, it should work.
2. A paint stirring stick (usually free at any place that sells paint)
3. Dried beans or noodles or something that will make a neat sound when it is shaken
4. Colored paper
5. Tape
6. Scissors
7. Markers

Take your paint stick and tape it to the inside of the box. Use plenty of strong tape so it doesn’t fall out easily. (I forgot and taped it to the outside of the box, but it really works better if it is taped to the inside.)

Fill the box with your dried beans or whatever you decided to use and tape shut all sides of the box.

​For this next step, you can be as fancy or as simple as you would like. Draw the violin shape onto the piece of colored paper. My violins are usually pretty simple. As long as the main components of the violin are on there, I am happy. For the end button, you can draw a dot or use a shiny or smiley face sticker.

Tape the piece of paper around the box. I like to then cover the whole box with packing tape to make it a little more durable, but it is not necessary.

​Enjoy introducing your child to the joys of music and the violin!