Education

Using a wide array of instruments, indigenous and homemade, Waring weaves fun fascinating tales of the origin of music and how all cultures through time utilized their natural environments for making fantastic sound-making devices. Evocative instruments like the bull roarer, mouth bow, animal horn, sea shell trumpet, and bamboo flute, for instance, are universal in range. The most distinctive characteristic of Waring’s show is that he makes most all the instruments he demonstrates. Each instrument, either because of its particular sound, design idea, or special symbolic dimension, has its own special story.

This assembly program is a demonstration/performance of almost fifty handmade/ homemade musical instruments based on ideas and inspirations from around the world. Interesting sights, sounds and stories provide audiences with new awareness into folklore, music, craft, science, and world view.

Follow-up instrument building workshops and extended residencies are available for all age groups. 

Watch the following snippets from the DVD “From Trash To Tunes” about Building Simple Instruments from Recycled Materials.

Dr. Waring offers a variety of instrument making workshops for all age groups. In keeping with the themes of ecological awareness and recycling, Dennis Waring shows groups how to make instruments from materials which are usually thrown away as garbage. By making musical instruments from scrounged materials, participants not only help our environment in a small way but also learn much concerning art and craft, acoustics and the science of sound, and gain multicultural insight and appreciation by examining the clever ways people of the world have created their magical, mythical, musical devices.

Types of instruments include (depending on age group):

• Simple guitars
• Flutes
• Xylophones
• Rattles
• Drums
• Rain Sticks
• Thumb Piano
• Older students and adults: Appalachian dulcimer, Celtic harp, banjo or four-string guitar
• Many, many other instrument making possibilities!

For schools and community presentations, instrument making workshops usually follow the “From Trash to Tunes” assembly program. Some program details:

• Tools and most materials are provided for a nominal fee.
• Groups of up to twenty or so can be accommodated for each workshop session.
• Instruction for building instruments begins with a “Mr. Wizard” style presentation in which small groups of students watch or assist in building prototype instruments under the direction of Dr. Waring.
• Instruction time for each instrument prototype is approximately 1/2 hour. The actual building portion of the workshop is approximately one hour depending on age group and number of people.
• Instrument making workshops require several large work tables with four or five people per table.

The Music Around the World Show is a one hour tour through the music of six different world cultures. Dr. Waring traveled around the world during the spring of 1999 and 2005 as shipboard ethnomusicologist with the University of Virginia’s Semester At Sea program. He brought back many fascinating musical instruments and stories. This presentation is a result of his experiences and adventures in several of the countries he visited.

Designed for small audiences (100 people maximum), the program emphasizes group interaction and participation. Musical instruments, each unique to the culture represented, are demonstrated and discussed in regard to points of history, social studies, science and art. Participants will engage in song and instrument play representative of each of culture area listed below.

• Native Peoples: How did music begin? Instruments like the musical bow, bullroarer and conch shell trumpet have been used by tribal cultures since the beginning of time. Communicating with the spirit world through music is a universal trait among early societies.
• Latin America: Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean embody a massive amount of music with strong African and European influences. By playing the Brazilian samba, Cuban mambo, and Trinidadian calypso, participants learn about the rhythms and social milieu of these countries.
• Africa: Drumming, singing and dancing go hand in hand throughout Africa. Playing drums together is a powerful and unique form of group interaction. The intoxicating rhythms of this wonderful culture have influenced music around the world.
• India: The ancient music of India has a timeless quality. Many unusual sounds and instruments reveal a culture very different than American culture. From the sacred music of the singing bowl to the strident melody of the snake charmer, India holds a host of surprises.
• China: A beautiful pictorial scene or sentiment expressed through sound is the greatest lure of Chinese music. With its lovely melodies and accessible musical scales, this music is one everybody can enjoy. Flutes, gongs, cymbals, and drums fill out this ensemble.
• Folk Music of the USA: The folk music of the United States is historically revealing and fun to play. The Appalachian Mountain jug band is a classic of American music ensembles. Dulcimers, jew’s harps, washboard, spoons, kazoos and a washtub bass make up this join-in activity.