Visual Arts Week 5 Year 5

This week in Visual arts I thought we would focus on something slightly different and look at making our very own musical instruments.  After lengthy talks with Ms Penza we thought we’d combine both visual arts and performing arts to create singing, dancing and instrument making into one.  Now let’s have fun!

Make a Sistrum

A sistrum is a hand-held percussion instrument that dates back to Ancient Egypt. Make your own with items from around the house.

About Sistrums:

A sistrum is a hand-held percussion instrument that was generally played by priestesses or the court musicians who entertained pharaohs and nobility. In fact, if you look closely at hieroglyphics or books about Egyptian culture, you can see examples of this instrument in some of it’s various shapes and sizes.

What You Need:

• 1 wire coat hanger

• Electrical tape

• Two (unsharpened) pencils or small dowels

• Assorted buttons, jingle bells or metal washers

• A small amount of floral wire, jewelry wire, fishing twine or embroidery thread

• A wire-cutter

What You Do:

First, straighten out the curved end of the coat hanger. This will form the handle to your sistrum. To make a strong handle that is easier to hold, place two un-sharpened pencils or wooden dowels next to the wire and slowly wrap it with electrical tape. Start at the bottom and wrap to the top. At the end, wind the electrical tape around the base of the sistrum to secure the handle in place.

Then, use your wire cutters to cut the long side of your coat hanger in half: exactly in the middle; directly above the handle. Slowly and carefully bend each side down into the shape of your final instrument – somewhat like the letter “Y”.

Use your electrical tape to fasten the two sides together on each side, leaving a space for two or three rows of bangles. Different colors of this type of tape can make the project even more decorative!

Finally, thread different kinds of buttons, jingle bells or metal washers onto a small piece of floral wire or jewelry wire. You can also use fishing twine or embroidery thread, but wire is better at keeping the bangles in place. Tie or secure the wire in place on each side and try out your instrument. It should make a pleasing sound when “swooshed” from one side to another.

The link below gives the origin of the Sistrum and shows how to make the instrument I hope you find this useful?

As Sunday is a special day for remembering mums I thought it would be extra special if mum/grandmother/carer or special person was able to receive a card designed, crafted and made especially by you!

Here are some examples you might want to use to design your very own Mothers Day card for that special person in your life!

Alternatively you might want to make a card of your own…..here are some of my favourite ones!

 

Here are some examples of a website I found for ideas to write in your Mothers Day card.  I hope you find these resources useful?

Alternatively you might want to write your very own message to mum and that’s totally fine too!

For Your Mother 

In life, there are times when you need your very own mom, and no one else will do. Similarly, there are certain special Mother’s Day messages you can only write to her.

From just you

• “You’re my one and only mom, and I’ll always have a special place in my heart for you.”
• “I’m so proud to be your kid.”
• “Right from the start, you were the one who nurtured me, prayed over me, worried about me, guided me and supported me in every pursuit. Thank you for being there every day with just the love I needed.”
• “Now that I’m grown, I realize I don’t just feel gratitude for you—but admiration. I’d want to pattern my life after yours even if you weren’t my mother.”
• “Raising me took a lot of patience. Thanks for hanging in there with me.”
• “To Mom, with love, from your favorite child.☺”
• “Mom, I was lucky enough to inherit your eyes and your sense of humor. I keep hoping I’ll get your lie-detector capabilities, too!”
• “With love from the luckiest [son] in the world.”
• “Sorry if I drove you crazy sometimes. I only did it because I love you!”
• “To my mom, my friend, my angel.”
• “Happy Mother’s Day, Mama. Every day, I thank heaven you’re mine.”

Also make sure your ready for another sketch book entry coming your way this week!

Looking forward to seeing last weeks entries of all the fabulous students detailed sketching of their backyards!

CONTACT DETAILS

Teresa Velardi (Visual Arts Teacher)

tvelardi@stgeorgepreca.catholic.edu.au

Please feel free to contact and share the magnificent pieces your children are making and creating!

Until next week ALWAYS ALWAYS get CREATING!