Fab Lab Húsavík has been a hive of activity this winter, where children of primary school age have been enjoying themselves in a creative and fun project called The Sound Workshop.
The aim of the project was to spark the creativity of children by combining music, instrument-making and technology. In a bespoke workshop, participants had the opportunity to design and build their own instruments, familiarise themselves with the diverse equipment in the Fab Lab workshop, and gain confidence in creative work. The project culminated in a musical performance where the instruments were showcased in a flash concert at Stéttin.
The Sound Workshop was a collaboration between Fab Lab Húsavík and the Húsavík Music School and received a grant from the Children's Culture Fund. It was open to all interested children and was also part of the organised school programme. In the open sessions, children could bring their own ideas and make them a reality. The results were impressive, with students designing and building, among other things, a bass guitar, a drum, a harp and a tambourine.
Year 5 pupils from Borgarhólsskóli took an active part and came to the workshop regularly with their music teacher. Their task was to design and build a flute. It required resourcefulness, and unexpected items came in very useful, such as electrical tubing, spools and latex gloves, which were used to seal and perfect the instrument.
Students from Thingeyjarskóli also took part in the project and came to the workshop with their teachers. Due to the distance, they were unable to attend the workshop as often, but instead enjoyed guidance from the school's art teacher in using the same programmes as those used at the Húsavík Fab Lab to design their instruments at school. They then received a visit from a member of staff from the Fab Lab, who helped to fine-tune the design and ensure it was ready for production on the workshop's equipment. Pupils from Þingeyjarskóli will continue the project in the new school year and complete the making of the instruments then.
After completing their instruments, the students received guidance on producing a clean tone from their flutes and subsequently held a concert at Stéttinni in Húsavík.
We thank all these fantastic kids for their participation and hope to see them in the Fab Lab as often as possible.
