How to Make Musical Instruments from Junk
Easy Instructions for Making an Affordable Music Instrument
Sep 17, 2008
The book Making Musical Instruments from Junk has been written by Nick Penny [ A&C Black, 2005] as a user friendly, step by step instructional book. It is illustrated with attractive photographs and the reader can immediately see not only what the instrument is supposed to look like, but how the student will play it.
The Benefits of Making an Instrument with a Class
Students will learn about how music is created in an innovative and engaging way. Because of the need to think through the process as students make their own instrument, knowledge about functional design will be enhanced. They will understand why certain materials and formations make particular kinds of sound.
When the class members have made their instruments, they will each have a functional instrument to play. The lesson can also be extended into a decorative art project. As well as functional, the instruments will be attractive.
Affordability of Making Recycled Instruments
Making Musical Instruments from Junk is arranged so that the projects become more complex towards the back of the book. The projects are affordable because the author suggests using recycled junk, consumables such as glue, string and fishing line and hardware items such as screws, screw drivers and wire. It means even the poorest student in the class can afford to play an instrument of her own.
At the start, Penny suggests teachers read the instructions thoroughly before they begin. He suggests that they be well prepared, so that teachers are not caught by surprise by the types of items needed for the projects. To encourage creative thinking, he also suggests that collection of recyclables is commenced well before the instrument making day. In the submersion phase of the project, encourage students to sort through materials frequently. They will have fun mixing, matching and designing in anticipation of the coming practical work.
Teachers might add depth to this activity by teaching a unit on conservation and recycling before commencing the instrument making project.
Safety Consciousness When Making Musical Instruments
There are some stages of the activities that will require alertness of supervision. Students may need help from an adult or older student. These types of activities include cutting, screwing, and stringing wire. It is suggested that teachers have a craft knife available, so that students don’t try to use scissors for cutting inappropriately.
The Science of Instrument Making
This project requires students hypothesize, plan, experiment and that they are willing to change and develop ideas until they settle for a sound that they truly like. This open-endedness can be frustrating if students are used to being given a pattern to follow. Talk to them about experimentation and gradually lead them towards the idea that they are designers and inventors.
Encourage the students to continually revamp their ideas. The swirl of creativity that will develop may stretch their imaginations and soon they will be inventing all kinds of combinations that create a vast array of sounds.
Decoration of the Instruments
Have a wide range of materials available for experimentation, such as marker pens, paint and coloured paper. If the recycled materials are already brightly coloured, have the students incorporate the colours into their designs.
Resources about Making Musical Instruments
There is a resources list which sets out books, relevant museums and worthwhile websites. Nick Penny's website is a treasure trove of resources for teachers. You can buy his book, inquire about a workshop and even listen to music that he has written and recorded.
The versatility of these instrument making exercises means that projects can be depthed across many aspects of the curriculum. The students will be delighted with their instruments and motivated to learn to play music, which can be shared with the class. If this project culminates with a presentation for a concert or performance, the attractiveness of the designs will enhance the effectiveness of the teaching strategy even further.
