The Deep Sea Maracas By:  Kylie H. My instrument is called The Deep Sea Maracas.  My grandpa helped me make them.  First he showed me two gourds my grandma grew in her garden.  Then I made a mark at the top so I could put it back on the right way after I cut the top off.  I cut the top off so I could clear out the seeds and carve out the inside.  Then I poured BBs into the gourds.  My grandpa helped me put special glue around the edge of the top of the gourd.  My grandpa carefully put the tops on and I waited for it to dry.  My grandpa said it would be faster to put it on the heater to dry.  So I put it on the heater to dry.  I used the electric sander to smooth the outside of the gourd.  My grandpa showed me how to put the primer on the gourds and I put the primer on the gourds.  When I put the primer on I got it all over my hands and my grandpa's hands too.  My grandpa then showed me how to use spray paint and then I spray painted the rest of the gourds.  Then I waited for it to dry.  I brought it home and my parents took me to Target to buy stickers.  I put the stickers on the gourds to make it look like a real ocean. I shake the gourds to make the sound.  I can shake it up and down or I can shake it in circles to make different sounds.  The dynamics can be soft or loud.  When you shake it real light the sound is soft.  When you shake it hard the sound is loud.  The pitch doesn't change.  It is a medium pitch.  The timbre sounds like a rattle shaking.