Educate with Retune It …
By designing musical instruments using recycled materials, Retune It aims to open up young minds to view the world around them in different ways and show children and young adults in education a new way of looking at the everyday objects we discard as rubbish.
How can we help you?
Retune It can help you with:
- National Curriculum requirements
- Cross Curricular Activities
- Eco Schools award attainment
- End Of Year Projects
- Shine Week
- Community Cohesion
- Open Days
- Department Promotion Days
- Activities Week
- Inset Activities
- Work Experience
- Every Child Matters Requirements
- Inter-departmental co-operation.
How can we help your students?
Retune It workshops and projects aim to:
- teach sustainability and sustainable design
- show different ways to use recycled materials
- encourage problem solving
- open up their minds to the endless possibilities in, and different ways to look at, the world around them
- have fun exploring and investigating different materials and sounds
- discover the magic of making music by connecting recycled materials and everyday items together to make instruments and noise makers
- be accessible to all ages and abilities
- allow young people to work at their own level and extend their learning
- inspire and educate through fun and hands on experience.
Most of our projects can be specifically tailored to your individual needs.
All our projects and workshops tie in with the requirements of the National Curriculum both during the workshops and as a jumping off point for teacher-led discussions and exercises in the classroom.
Recycle, Reuse, Retune It
Noise Maker Workshops
All Key Stages and above
These workshops are lots of fun for all involved and can be enjoyed by all age groups and abilities. Retune It will supply all nessessary materials pre-cut for students who are not yet able to use tools.
Retune It can deliver workshops to make the following Noise Makers:
Bottle Top Clacker
– an ingenious little instrument made by children in India, it delivers a rapid fire succession of clicks. The tone of the instrument can be changed by repositioning the hand to make it a versitile, if simply constructed percussion instrument.Bird Whistler
– many different materials can be used to make these instruments, small plastic bottles, pvc conduit, film containers, etc. When rotated these little whistles make chirping sounds. The bird whistler can play in various pitches when rotated at different speeds.
Phartaphone
– giving a loud, saxophone type note, this instrument is easily assembled and played. The Phartaphone is always enjoyed by younger students and is a great instrument for demonstrating the Science of Music to older students. Neal McBride's phartaphone design was featured in the Christmas Edition of The Guardian, 2008.Rainstick
– based on the Chilean / Peruvian tradition noise maker. Using recycled cardboard tubes, students will be able to create their own rain effects with these joyous instruments. Students will have lots of design decisions to make regarding the sound and look of their rainstick.Shakers
– it is possible for Retune It to assist in the design and construction of shakers and many other noise makers and percussion instruments that you may want to create a specific sound or performance.Retune It will supply all materials in pre-prepared kits.
Batonka Projects/Workshop
Key stage 1
Suitable for both Year 1 and 2, this workshop shows children an alternative and fun way to play music and makes them aware of new ways to recycle materials. After learning about making sounds, and comparing, measuring and ordering materials, the children build two batonkas, using pipes as long as a finger to ones taller than their teachers, and play as a junk yard orchestra. With links to Science/materials and Music curriculum, as well as Eco Schools, this fun and engaging workshop is also a fantastic enrichment activity.
Batonka Projects/Workshop
Key stage 2
This workshop involves comparing and ordering different lengths of pipe and then matching them to a pre-marked Batonka base. Retune It will provide all materials and students will be encouraged to play and perform on the Batonka once it has been assembled.
Batonka Projects/Workshop
Key stage 3
Retune It will provide a pre-made Batonka base for this project. Using a simple formula, students will calculate the length of pipe required to make a particular note. They will then measure and cut pipes to the required length before assembling the Batonka. Students will be encouraged to play and perform on the batonka once it has been assembled. Various sizes of Batonka are available for this project and it is possible to make more than one during the session. Schools/Colleges can buy the Batonkas as they are an excellent addition to any music department.
Batonka Projects/Workshop
Key stage 4
This project involves students designing and building several differently sized and pitched Batonkas to create a Batonka orchestra.
Retune It will deliver a two day workshop including practical demonstrations. Working in groups, the students get to the final approved design stage by the end of Day One. Day Two will be a build day with the students presenting their finished Batonkas, possibly with an element of performance. Depending on the final designs, this project will involve elements of design, maths, woodwork, metalwork, use of tools and of course music.
The Science of Music Workshop
Gifted and Talented Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 and above
This is a fun workshop on the science of sound and music. This workshop is comprised of theoretical and practical elements in the form of a discussion between the workshop leader and the students, incorporating plenty of hands on exercises and mini-performances.
The workshop covers the following:
- What is Sound?
- What is Music?
- How is Sound generated?
- How do we hear Sounds?
- Frequency and Pitch
- Turning Sounds into Music
- Fundamentals and Partials
- Modern Instrument classification system (Sachs/Hornbostel)
The workshop encourages student participation both practically and in discussions. There are many opportunities for students to give their opinions where there are no right or wrong answers.
Students are encouraged to use their ears in a different way and to hunt down different sounds, using the contents of the room as their orchestra. The workshop concludes with a 15 minute make, where students will produce a Bottle-top Clacker, a Bird Whistler or similar instrument/noise maker.
Flute, Whistle and Pipe Projects/Workshops
Key stage 1
Retune It delivers several different projects and workshops involving all kinds of blown instruments (aerophones), from penny whistles to the 2 metre long Fujhara, tuned pan pipes to overtone conavkas and everything in between. All pipes are constructed from drain pipes or electrical conduit.
This workshop involves comparing different lengths of pipe and then matching them to a Pan Pipe base. Retune It will provide all materials and the students will be encouraged to play and perform on the Pan Pipes once assembled.
Aerophones can be designed and built to fit in with any project that your school/college may require. Workshops and demonstrations can be devised around this exercise.
Flute, Whistle and Pipe Projects/Workshops
Key stage 2
Retune It delivers several different projects and workshops involving all kinds of blown instruments (aerophones), from penny whistles to the 2 metre long Fujhara, tuned pan pipes to overtone conavkas and everything in between. All pipes are constructed from drain pipes or electrical conduit.
This workshop involves measuring different lengths of pipe and then matching them to a pre-marked Pan Pipe base. Retune It will provide all materials and the students will be encouraged to play and perform on the Pan Pipes once assembled.
Aerophones can be designed and built to fit in with any project that your school/college may require. Workshops and demonstrations can be devised around this exercise.
Flute, Whistle and Pipe Projects/Workshops
Key stage 3
Retune It delivers several different projects and workshops involving all kinds of blown instruments (aerophones), from penny whistles to the 2 metre long Fujhara, tuned pan pipes to overtone conavkas and everything in between. All pipes are constructed from drain pipes or electrical conduit.
Retune It will provide a pre-made Concovka fipples for this project. Using a simple formula, students will calculate the length of pipe required to make a particular note. They will then measure and cut pipes to the required length before assembling the Concovkas. Students will be encouraged to play and perform on the Concovkas once assembled. The Concovkas can be made into a set of pan pipes. Schools/Colleges can buy these pipes as they are an excellent addition to any music department.
Aerophones can be designed and built to fit in with any project that your school/college may require. Workshops and demonstrations can be devised around this exercise.
Flute, Whistle and Pipe Projects/Workshops
Key stage 4 and above
Retune It delivers several different projects and workshops involving all kinds of blown instruments (aerophones), from penny whistles to the 2 metre long Fujhara, tuned pan pipes to overtone conavkas and everything in between. All pipes are constructed from drain pipes or electrical conduit.
This project involves students designing and building several differently sized and pitched aerophones to create an aerophone orchestra.
Retune It will deliver a two day workshop including practical demonstrations. Students will get to the final approved design stage by the end of Day One. Day Two will be a build day with the students presenting their finished aerophones, possibly with an element of performance. Depending on the final designs, this project will involve elements of design, maths, woodwork, metalwork, use of tools and of course music.
Aerophones can be designed and built to fit in with any project that your school/college may require. Workshops and demonstrations can be devised around this exercise.
Kalimba Project
Key stage 3
This project focuses on turning everyday objects into musical instruments. Retune It has up-scaled the African Kalimba (Thumb Piano) and designed two different basic models, Biscuit Tin Kalimba and Storage Box Kalimba, which students can use as a basis for designing their own Kalimbas.
Retune It can deliver this project in the following ways:
- A one day design workshop. Retune It will deliver a workshop including practical demonstrations and get the students to the final approved design stage. The teacher/facilitator will then be left to oversee the construction element of the project.
- A two day workshop. As above, Retune It will get the students to the final, approved design stage. Day two will be a build day with the students presenting their finished Kalimbas, possibly with an element of performance.
All materials can be scavenged by the students prior to the project beginning, but Retune It can supply required materials.
Drum Projects/Workshops
Key stage 3
Retune It will devise projects and workshops around any and all drum requirements that you may have. Retune Itnuses many different types of recycled materials to make both the bodies and the skins of drums. Below are pictured some drums that Neal makes and maintains for Stomp's Lost and Found Orchestra using Oil drums, Industrial Soup Kettles and Rubble Chutes.
Retune It uses Polymorph, a reusable thermal plastic which is also biodegradable, to make tuned Rocket Toms. (Pictured below)
Retune It can tailor projects to enable your school/college to create it's own samba band from wheelie bins, concrete casting cardboard tubes and many other household, industrial, found and recycled materials.
Drum Projects/Workshops
Key stage 4
Retune It will devise projects and workshops around any and all drum requirements that you may have. Retune Itnuses many different types of recycled materials to make both the bodies and the skins of drums. Below are pictured some drums that Neal makes and maintains for Stomp's Lost and Found Orchestra using Oil drums, Industrial Soup Kettles and Rubble Chutes.
Retune It uses Polymorph, a reusable thermal plastic which is also biodegradable, to make tuned Rocket Toms. (Pictured below)
Retune It can tailor projects to enable your school/college to create it's own samba band from wheelie bins, concrete casting cardboard tubes and many other household, industrial, found and recycled materials.
Marimba Project
Key stage 4 and above
This project is designed to pull in several departments within a school/college and incorporates such elements as design, woodwork, metal work, maths and music. Retune It will lead students and teachers through the process of designing and hand-making a three octave marimba which will be a fantastic addition to any music department.
This project enables students to create large, prohibitively expensive instruments (a similar instrument to purchase new costs around £3000) by utilizing the talents and expertise found throughout the school/college. Reliant on good communication between departments, the true value of this project is realised when several groups within a school/college co-operate and share their talents, resources and facilities in such areas as design, construction, etc.
The project will be delivered in three stages:
Introduction and Design
Retune It will provide an introductory workshop to get the initial theory and design ideas in place.Finalise Design
Retune It will revisit the school/college to approve the final design and help put in place the manufacturing method and schedule.Final Sign-Off and performance
Retune It's final visit to snag and tag the finished instrument. Retune It will be happy to co-ordinate a performance focusing on the Marimba and this will be in conjunction with all parties involved at the school/college.
String Projects
Key stage 4 and above
The string projects involve making guitars, gimbri and other variations on string instruments. We use sports equipment and other recycled materials to create these very playable and versatile instruments. The two main types created and designed by Retune It are the Hockey Stick Gimbi, based on a home-made instrument used by the Gnawa musicians of North Africa, and the Squash Racquet Slide Guitar. Students will be encouraged to design an instrument to suit their needs which may vary from Retune It designs.
This project will take place in three sessions:
- During the first session, Retune It will present all relevant theory required for designing a string instrument as well as practical demonstrations and discussion of materials.
- The second session will guide students through the design process. Retune It will get the students to the final approved design stage. Students will be encouraged to scavenge all materials they intend to use for the construction of their instrument, with the exception of hardware.
- Retune It will lead the construction stage of the project. At the end of this stage students will present their finished string instruments, possibly with an element of performance.
These elements can be spread over several weeks or presented as a 2 day project. This Project can be tailored to the individual needs of your school/college, as a one of project or to fit in with meeting the requirements of the National Curriculum.
