Music Project: Creating Instruments with Our Head, Heart, and Hands

Every Wednesday for the next three weeks the students of Hearthstone will create various musical instruments. The first week we converted plastic buckets into drums and painted them with vibrant colors. During this time we scavenged the school grounds for materials we can use as instruments, instilling the value of using what is available, "Waste not, want not.". We also found a large metal bell-like structure and metal scraps, we hope to weld these together this spring with the help of local welders.

The project we are focusing most on during this six week period is the creation of a large wooden amadinda, more commonly recognized as a xylophone. To make the amadinda we first had to collect two pieces of cedar measured at 10x2x4. We then measured and cut the wood. Currently we are tuning the pieces to the right key by shaving the underside to raise the key or the ends to lower the key. Our next step will be to assemble the pieces in a hanging structure.

This program is offered through Frances Miller and Liz Shaw, teachers at Hearthstone School. The program is open to students and home schoolers of the Hearthstone community that are not attending the six week skiing program.