12-foot Swiss Alphorn -- Israeli Shofar -- Caribbean conch shell trumpet -- Australian Didjeridoo -- German Post horn -- Tibetan Dragon trumpet -- Natural Valveless Horn -- Orchestral French Horn
These are the instruments that I bring into classrooms to show the students, and I always look forward to seeing their faces when they first notice the alphorn stretching halfway across the room.
The students are completely engaged from that moment: they listen quietly to hear the beginning vibrations of singing bowl, they guess if an instrument will be high or low, loud or soft, and they enthusiastically ask questions at the end of the presentation. We discuss where each instrument came from, how old it is, its cultural significance, how the sound is produced, and what kind of music can be played on it.
They listen quietly to hear the beginning vibrations of singing bowl, they guess if an instrument will be high or low, loud or soft, and they enthusiastically ask questions at the end of the presentation.
We discuss where each instrument came from, how old it is, its cultural significance, how the sound is produced, and what kind of music can be played on it.
An acoustical science component can be added, where we discuss the four sources of sound. This is an interactive segment where the students produce sounds in different ways. After discussing the idea of music versus noise, the students are asked to come up with examples of noise and musical instruments for each of the four sound sources.
These presentations have engaged audiences from preschool through college, and at family concerts. The content is tailored for each age group.
One of these programs were featured in the Chicago Tribune.
If you are interested in a presentation for your school or organization, please send an email to lisa(a)lisataylor.com or fill out the form on the contact page.
