The Rain Stick

The Rain Stick is an unusual instrument. According to Burns, the Rain Stick was indigenous to the Elqui Valley, in Northern Chile (Instruments, 2009, Canning Vale, W.A., IJAM Music). The Eliqui Valley is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. Originally made from dead Normata Cactus which had been trimmed of branches, dried and hollowed out, rain sticks were filled with seeds. Chilean legend declares that the Diaguita Indians used the rain sticks in ceremonies in requests for rainstorms. In modern times, the Rain Stick is utilised as a musical instrument.

          The Rain Stick is also called Palo de Lluvia and can be observed and heard in the following video

I made a Rain Stick (as seen below) using a cardboard cylinder, tiny beads and some ribbons. I tried tiny bells at first but this did not achieve the sound which I was seeking.

It can be quite relaxing to play a Rain Stick and encouraging the sounds of rain to come. Tilting or twisting the instrument causes the beads to fall which emulates the sound of rainfall. Tapping also creates sounds. Shaking ,using various rhythms, adds another element.

          Curt Sachs states, on page 194 of The History of Musical Instruments (1977, London, J. M. Dent and Sons) that the Malayans also had a type of Rain Stick: this was a “planter stick” with a cavity which was filled with seeds. Used during ceremonies regarding worship of mountains, water and rain, the seeds “rattled when the planter stick was pounded on the ground”.

Here is a lesson plan from http://www.crayola.com/for-educators/lesson-plans/lesson-plan/chilean-rainsticks.aspx

Chilean Rainsticks

Listen to rain indoors with these replica rainsticks from Chile. Discover native legends from many cultures in the Americas.

1. Find out how, where, and when rainsticks were discovered. Identify their uses in various indigenous cultures of the Americas. Choose Native American symbols that are especially appropriate to decorate your replica rattle.

2. Seal your tube. Choose a recycled cardboard tube. Cut it to the desired length with Crayola® Scissors.

3. On a recycled file folder, trace around an open end of your cardboard tube with Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils. Draw a larger circle around the first one. Cut around the bigger circle. Cut several slits from the outer edge of the larger circle in to the smaller circle. Make two of these double circles, one for each end of the tube.

4. Fold the slit edges up from the smaller circle. Seal one end of the tube with one of the circles. Air-dry the glue.

5. Fill your rainstick. Roll and twist a long piece of aluminum foil into a spiral snake. Place the foil snake inside your tube.

6. Pour a few seeds into your tube. Hold your hand over the open end of the tube and gently turn your rainstick over to see how it sounds. Experiment with the amount of seeds until you have the sound you like best.

7. Glue the second end of your rainstick closed.

8. Decorate your rainstick. Cover your art area with newspaper. Decorate the outside of your rainstick with authentic Native American colors and designs using Crayola Washable Paint and Paint Brushes. Air-dry your rainstick.

9. Glue on decorative craft materials for a finishing touch. Air-dry before turning your rainstick from one end to another.

Benefits

Students research the history of the rainstick and learn how it was originally made.

Students understand the use of the rainstick in various cultures.

Students create a replica rainstick and decorate it in authentic Native American designs.

Adaptations

Make various length rainsticks or use other materials inside to hear how the sound of each will change.

Research and make other Chilean or Native American instruments.

Research Native American legends about the rainstick.