Architecture Students Design Instruments for CMS Students

AArchitecture Students Design Instruments

Architecture for the Underserved Studio (ARC 503), taught last spring by Teaching Fellow Patrick Rhodes, combines a hands-on, grassroots approach to help clients in need with an academic method of testing theory. Eight master’s ofarchitecture students, including Leslie Aldridge, Leslie Bloem, Erich Brunk, Jessica Cochran, Stephanie Greene, Lindsey Ottaway, Karl Rogers and Matthew Weiss, signed up for the studio because they wanted to help people and design real-world solutions while collaborating with actual clients. Leslie Bloem sought out actionoriented, real-world design/build details that would provide instant gratification. Matt Weiss said that making things instead oftheorizing was great. “We worked full scale in the shop and actually built things,” he adds. Although there were several projects during the semester, the one that provided the most contact with client input involved making new instruments with students enrolled in the Community Music School (CMS) in Wake County. Teams ofgraduate students created instruments based on

what the talented children desired most. With no limitations put on the pupils’ creativity, most students wanted instruments different from what they play at CMS. The design team was impressed, and a bit intimidated, by how smart the CMS students were. Rhodes charged the students with making the instruments out of salvaged parts and no more than $50. The instruments were unique and the final products included new twists on conventional instruments, including a mini-trombone, a guitar/flute/French horn combination instrument, a drum set, a cello, a dulcimer-like instrument, and a string/percussion combination instrument known as the “drum-tar.” Program Director Anne Everhart says, “It was such a rewarding experience to have CMS students participate in this project with graduate design students. Each instrument created was uniquely and delicately crafted in a short amount oftime. Our students enjoyed being able to explore a different side oftheir creative minds, and putting their thoughts on paper. “This was their art, their music, and their project, prepared especially for them,” Everhart said. The CMS students were able to tour the design studio where their instruments

This page, clockwise from top: Lindsey Ottaway works on the xylotar (or drum-tar) in the shop. Matt Weiss' sketch of the guitar/flute/French horn combination with some of the metal components displayed. Montrell Jordan assists Karl Rogers on making his trombone. Jaden Jules plays his new cello.

Opposite page, top: Jaden Jules gets one-on-one time with Leslie Bloem to help build his cello. Bottom: Jessica Cochrane looks on as Montrell Jordan plays his trombone.

were made, and the work was showcased in the lobby of Brooks Hall. The architecture student teams watched the pupils create music and write songs on their new instruments. It was rewarding for the NC State students to witness the delight the CMS students had with their creations. According to family members ofthe CMS participants, it was a mutually beneficial experience. Inez Brewington, CMS student Ari Moore’s grandmother, said it was a great opportunity for him to express his creativity by combining two instruments that he is most interested in. “He worked on an instrument called a drum-tar. The students that worked with him were so patient and kind. They took his ideas, even though they seemed far-fetched. Ari thinks through music and this project allowed him to see his thoughts made into something tangible.” Carline Jules, whose son Jaden Jules is a CMS student, said the project is something in which her son takes pride, and the visit to NC State has broadened his horizons. “It was such a great experience for Jaden… [including his visit to the Architecture department] where for the first time, he showed interest in something else other than performing arts,” she said. “It was truly a remarkable experience and one that my child will cherish forever.” As Jaden puts it “it was a great experience working with a talented student. I hope to help someone the same way that Leslie has helped me in building this cello.” “It was a very rewarding experience working one on one with Jaden. I was amazed by his intelligence and dedication at such a young age. I feel very privileged that I was able to build him an instrument that lets

him express his creativity and his talent,” says Bloem. Montrell Jordan’s mother Melissa says he was very excited. “The students were instructed to share with the NC State students to create an instrument that the children didn‘t have, but wanted to have. The finished product was far more than we all imagined that it would be. Since the creation ofthe Trombone, Montrell and his little brother have shared it with family and friends and to date, it still remains a part ofhis musical instruments in his music room,” she says. Jessica Cochrane says, “Workingwith Montrell was rewardingbecause it tookhim a while to warm up to us. At first, he was quiet and reserved— only answering yes/no questions. Finally, we gave him a pencil and sketch book and he totally opened up. He drew for us explanations on how a trombone worked. It was incredible. Every meeting after that he met us with a huge smile totally ready to build his instrument.”

The Community Music School provides an opportunity for children grades K-12 from low-income families to receive private music lessons for $1 per lesson. Students are taught by music professionals and teachers in most orchestral instruments in addition to piano, percussion, voice, and guitar. For more information about Community Music School, please visit the CMS Web site: www.cmsraleigh.org.

In addition to the CMS project and the other community projects, the architecture graduate studio culminated with a collaborative effort ofall the students to build an Eco-station prototype. The Eco-station was designed to collect rainwater that would be used to sustain an urban garden contained in the structure. The group worked on a sketch and sought out materials to build the prototype, which was on exhibition in the college’s courtyard at the end ofApril.