Yesterday saw six students and a member of staff from the Ax Valley Community College come to the Thelma Hulbert Gallery in Honiton for my ear harp workshops. I had previously cut some cherry from my woodland in somerset (a recently fallen branch) into shapes that could be used to create ear harps (see previous entries for details). The students came to the gallery and were greeted by Angela who introduced the gallery and the exhibition, they then played the walls and had a thoroughly good play.
We then moved upstairs to the educational room and embarked on the creation of their own ear harps, after an introduction to my instruments and their playing of them they chose their own shape and piece of wood, democratically and without to much controversy!
A brief introduction as to the safety of using knives and whittling and off they went, They were very good, we did have have one slice of misfortune when the only boy in the group decided to cut his finger, plaster administered and all was fine, although a couple of biscuits did also help!
Lunch.
Back in the afternoon to finish off and string the instruments. they did a fantastic job, creating not only great designs but wonderfully sounding instruments. The idea that in a few hours you can make your own unique instrument was greatly appreciated.
They all went home very happy, were a delight to teach and their instruments will be on show when Part Two of "Drop me a Line' starts on the 23rd May alongside recordings from the exhibition on show at the moment. I have received a number of recordings and would like more please, so go to the show, recorded yourselves playing the exhibit and send the sound files to me at michaelfairfaxstudio@gmail.com
This Saturday the 18th of April I will be in the gallery from 11.00 - 2.00 to talk about the show and also help you if you need help to record your sounds, so please do come along.
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