In this three-period workshop and presentation, high school students learn how the use of objects found in our everyday environments can create exciting and innovative music. The group demonstrates and discusses the definition of a musical instrument and how it has changed since Bay Area artists such as Henry Cowell, Harry Partch and Lou Harrison started to challenge the definition. This workshop encompasses learning areas as diverse as building instruments from raw materials, DIY electronics, composition and improvisation techniques, notation, and performance strategies and dynamics. Students bring household objects that can be used to create unique sounds. The Thingamajigs Performance Group will kick off the workshop with a live performance and demonstration.
This workshop is in collaboration with Thingamajigs, a genre-crossing arts organization that promotes music and other art forms created with made and found materials or alternate tuning systems.