What are some of your favorite examples of visual art? Have you spotted a sculpture that really speaks to you? Is there a painting on your wall that inspires you with every glance? Maybe a building you pass on your daily commute that always makes you smile? This week you have the opportunity to make music inspired by your favorite pieces of visual art! Will your improvisations accurately match what you see, or will they help you see things in a new light?
Adult non-musicians: Visualize or find a picture of one of your favorite pieces of art. Focus on the imagined or actual image for at least 30 seconds. What sounds can you hear as you think about it? Does the work itself evoke specific sounds, or can you hear music inspired by it? How does this activity enhance your appreciation of the work?
K–8: Show students an example of visual art, or encourage them to find their own example. Ask questions to help them create an improvisation based on the artwork. Examples: What would this orange part of the drawing sound like? What kind of sounds would you hear in the background of this photograph? Does this sculpture remind you of smooth or pointed sounds? If this painting could talk, would it be loud or quiet? After experimenting with a few sounds, encourage them to put it together into a single improvisation. What did they learn from improvising this way?
Musicians: Find an example of visual art, perhaps something out of the ordinary for yourself for an additional challenge (a piece of art you don’t like, something you haven’t considered as art before, etc.). Before playing, focus on the art objectively for what it is without thinking of music at all. Does it have multiple components? What kind of atmosphere does it evoke? What about it stands out to you the most? After thoroughly focusing on the art itself, see what kind of musical creation follows.