Studying Ancient Musical Instruments
Fourth grade students have embarked on an art lesson involving clay and
music. Along with teacher Meghan McCarthy, they learned about the long
history of the ancient instrument known as the ocarina. They studied
ocarinas from all over the world, starting in Central and South America,
to China, Europe and North America.
After constructing the form, they then worked together on making the
whistle. They were able to create multiple sounds by piercing the
ocarina to create a high or low pitch.
“Students were influenced by particular ocarina forms and surface
designs from the different cultures we studied,” Mrs. McCarthy said.
“They had fun experimenting with the ocarinas and even making some into
animals, characters or just beautiful abstract forms.”