大象传媒

Part of Pollution and waste topic

Welcome to The Regenerators.

Created in partnership with .

Back to top

Introduction

Music and drama are great ways to explore issues like pollution and climate change. Music can add fun and emotion to a performance.

It is possible to reuse waste objects and items to make music.

大象传媒shop will teach you how to create your own upcycled string, wind and percussion instruments.

Back to top

What is The Tree of Objects?

Hello! We are Arthur and Natalie and we created The Tree of Objects, a theatre and music show using unwanted objects and recycled materials.
Nat and Arthur in the Tree of Objects, a stage set filled with upcycled items - bike wheel, pots and pans, blanketsImage source, Oliver Mounir

Natalie and Arthur decided to reuse and repurpose waste to create their show. They worked with their set designer Mona to create a big tree made up of all sorts of unwanted objects.

They collected waste at home to build musical instruments and puppets. They found more waste to use from the streets but they still needed more. So they asked neighbours and finally鈥 the tip!

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 4, Regenerators music workshop upcycled instruments from biscuit tin, toilet rolls, egg crate, Arthur made lots of musical instruments out of household waste items.
Back to top

How is music used in the play?

Tree of Objects characters X and Y playing music on upcycled waste objectsImage source, Oliver Mounir

In the Tree of Objects, music is used as a type of language.

The two characters are called X and Y. They are not able to speak with words. Instead, they have to use music and body language to understand each other.

The music also tells us what the characters are like as people.

X likes banging on things because she is loud and confident.

Y blows into water bottles as if they are a flute because he is careful and delicate, like the wind.

Back to top

Creating sounds

Once I'd collected enough materials, I needed to make music out of it!

Arthur, the Orang Collectif

Sounds are made when objects vibrate. This sends sound waves through the air and into our ears.

When we make music, we can group some sounds together.

Percussion - these sounds can be made by hitting materials like metal or wood with a stick or your hands.

Wind - you can blow into a bottle or a whistle to make these sounds.

String - you can use rubber bands and pluck them like a guitar.

Arthur used all of these sounds to create a piece of music for The Tree of Objects, which you can listen to below.

Back to top

What items can be used to make sounds?

Arthur used all kinds of items and objects to make his musical instruments.

Play this quiz to see if you can guess how each sound was made.

Back to top

Workshop - make your own upcycled instruments

Now it's time to create your own musical instruments out of waste and household items.

Watch this video to see and hear some of the instruments you can make.

This video has no words or dialogue, just music.

Back to top

The mini-banjo

This is a string instrument.

Press the sound button to hear a sample.

Now use the instruction sheet to learn how to make your own mini-banjo.

THE REGENERATORS

Make an upcycled mini-banjo
Back to top

The shakers

This is a percussion instrument.

Press the sound button to hear a sample.

Now use the instruction sheet to learn how to make your own shakers.

THE REGENERATORS

Make upcycled shakers
Back to top

There's more to learn

Explore more lessons and content from around the 大象传媒.

More from The Regenerators

大象传媒 BITESIZE

More from The Regenerators
Back to top