I hope you got a chance to experience the music of the world around us last week. Did you enjoy the natural music that you listened to? This week, I want to show you that, not only is music more than just songs and notes on an instrument, but instruments can be more than what we see in the music room! Have you heard the noise and cheering being made every night at 7pm? It is a way that people have been giving thanks to the hard-working doctors and nurses that are making sure that we all stay healthy and safe. I would like everyone in the John Muir family to join in with an instrument of their own making! Instructions:Build an instrument using things around the house and yard. Bonus points if you are using things that was destined for the garbage or recycling! It can be anything, a can, a box, sticks, a broken toy, or an unwanted pot and pan! Your job is the help it make some unexpected sounds (so don’t just pick up a can and bang on it, what can you do to the can to help it make different sounds?) Think about how we make different sounds on the ukulele, the strings are all different sizes, and when we press down on the frets, we are actually making the strings shorter. Do you remember what makes it go higher and lower? How can we transfer that knowledge over into making an instrument of your own? Your challenge is to create an instrument that can produce different pitch—high and low sounds to create “melody”. I would love to see a picture or video of your fantastical creations!! Examples:Example: Here are some videos of performances using instruments made from “junk” Can you tell what the instruments are made from in the videos? Let me know in the comment section below! Here are some examples of instruments you might be able to make at home: Check out this site if you want some more ideas. A bit more...I wanted to share with you, music that I listen to, to help me change my mindset and mood. Depending on what I need, I listen to different things. If I really need a distraction, this is my go-to piece of music: Sergei Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto Number 2 I know this isn’t what you would normally listen to, remember when I said that we all like different types of music? But I would like you to give it a chance, like I will do with your’s when you share with me!
There is a lot of memories tied up for me with Rachmaninoff’s piano concerto, and the technical abilities these musicians show always takes my breath away. There is so much emotion and things happening in this music that I can’t help but focus all my attention and energy on it, helping me forget about whatever it is that I was worried about before. It’s kind of like how you feel when you watch an amazing athlete, gamer, dancer, or singer (and even tik tokers) show off their skills! Next week, I’ll share with everyone music that I listen to if I want to give myself more energy!
2 Comments
Brynna
4/29/2020 10:38:14 am
The instruments were made of metal, pipes and a ladder.
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Ms. Wu
4/29/2020 10:54:02 am
Good eye, Brynna! I was at that concert, and if I remember correctly, he even used his daughter's old boot! I think my favourite is the half of a car on stage :)
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