The concept of recycling is not at all new. Most of us are probably aware of the numerous benefits of recycling. The waste that is generated in homes and businesses is quite under control. Thanks to recycling as it reduces the reliance on landfill areas. It also helps us to reduce the environmental impacts of industrial production saving energy and reduces emissions of greenhouse gases. Our natural recourses are also safeguarded when we recycle or reuse the discarded materials and create new products. Making use of recycled materials and giving them a new life is a trend being followed by artists of various industries like fashion, craft, architecture etc. to name a few. People have tried to relate recycling with music and have wondrously succeeded. Out of many green musical instruments we have incorporated the ten best.
1. Hybrid Instruments
New York based artist and musician Ken Butler displayed his ‘Hybrid instruments’ at the Mulvane Art Museum which were the centre of attraction at the museum. He made these musical instruments out of junk and discarded hair clips, combs, hockey sticks and umbrella. Butler took inspiration from assemblage to create his stringed instruments.
2. Bash the Trash
‘Bash the trash’ is a musical group which was founded by New York based Bertles and his wife, Carina Piaggio. This group performs in various schools, concert halls, corporate functions etc. with musical instruments, all built out of trash and found objects. It also inform people on how to create musical instruments out of trash
3. Recycled ice cream stick guitar from anonymous artist
An unknown eco-artist has created a beautiful eco-friendly guitar by making use of around 4000 ice cream sticks which we often throw away in garbage bins or carelessly along sidewalks.the artist has worked continuously for ten day to symmetrically assemble the ice cream stick to create the guitar. This recycled music instrument is priced at somewhere around $900.
4. Recycling to create musical instruments in Japan
In a television show in Japan, the participants were given household items to make musical instruments. A saxophone was created from a film case, a pipe and part of a balloon. Plastic bottles, cup ramen containers, and straws were used to create a set of horns that took home the price of 500,000 yen.
5. Karam’s Residual Gurus
Barcelona based musical group called Karam has a talent of converting junk into musical instruments. The group has been performing a show called ‘Residual gurus’ in which they make use of musical instrument made out of rubbish, that creates mesmerising melody making the audience spellbound. They perform this show with a motive to create awareness about trash problem.
6. Students create musical instruments from recycled materials
School kids at the Applewild School in Fitchburg, Massachusetts have taken the initiative of preserving the environment by creating unique musical instrument out of discarded junk and dumped articles like pots, pans, PVC pipes, washboards, water jugs etc. These students have inspire a common man to consider to reuse any item before throwing it in trash.
7. Junkyard campers create recycled sound sculptures
Musician Donald Knaack aka The Junkman who is a trained percussionist has created musical instruments from recycled pipes, coffee cans, license plates, plastic tubs, lawn ornaments etc. Wooden Xylophone and a drum set were also created by transforming farm equipments. 40 kids from Memphis helped the Junkman in constructing the musical instruments to be permanently displayed in the Junkyard Museum.
8. Sound sculpture made out of junk
Art teacher Michael Bingham has innovatively created ’sound sculpture’. To make this structure he along with his son collected junk, e-waste, wood scrap, plastic waste like umbrella bottoms, plastic-ware, broken tables and transformed them into musical instrument which produces an ear pleasing sound and is amazing to look at.
9. Innovative Instruments by Praxis Guitars
The guitar designing company Praxis Guitars has created guitars out of CNC routers and old books. Called the Praxis Zero, the instrument can achieve any sound effect as it lets its central body to join any handy object. Recycling is always kept in mind before creating the guitars and therefore salvaged and discarded materials are used.
10. CanUnDrum: Creating melodies from recycled trash since 2004
Santa Clarita Valley based musical group called CanUnDrum have been creating musical instruments from PVC pipes, 55-gallon buckets, pots and pans. The group has been entertaining audience since 2004, with melodious sounds produced from these recycled instruments.
