Lewis Childs - Lessons

info@LewisChilds.com
(503) 750–7657

GROUP LESSONS
are available for voice, guitar, and building
instruments from recycled materials.

RECYCLED INSTRUMENTS PROJECTS

In 2001 I began teaching music through the sun schools at Buckman Elementary. While their I helped kids learn about music, technology and the creative process through my Build a Band classes. Essentially what we did was to take some common materials (knitting spools, chopsticks, cookie tins, rubber bands and anything else we could find), and then we would make instruments out of them. Sometimes just seeing what the kids would create out of the the pile of junk in front of them, and other times making specific instuments like didgeredoos (Austrailian Aboriginal instrument) or cuicas (squeaky instrument used in the Samba). Through these activities, the kids and I would have wonderful dialogues about music, for example how would you define music? One answer. "A combination of silence and sound," not bad for an 8 year old. I'd even go so far as to say Mr. Webster might want to have a focus group with some of these kids on rethinking our language. He might learn a thing or to. that's just it. Learning is a collaborative process where we give to eachother and share our knowledge enhancing eachothers world view and personal skills. Back to the project. Over the corse of three terms, the kids made 3 CDs helping on all aspects of the process. This project was then taken to other locations such as Willowbrook Summer Camp, and the Jack, Will and Rob Center. During my 2-1/2 years as director of the after school arts center in Camas, Washington, I taught a wide range of classes including guitar, bass guitar, piano, synthesizer, drums, capoeira, percussion, recording and how to do sound for live shows.