Advanced engineering firm Renishaw and Bristol Music Trust, which runs the city’s Colston Hall music venue, have teamed up to give Bristol schoolchildren the chance to design and build their own digital music instruments.
The two organisations have come together under a new three-year partnership with hi-tech educators Conductive Music to create an inspiring education programme that combines engineering, maths, and music – giving 7-11 year olds the opportunity to learn about music technology in a fun and creative way.
Children from 12 schools initially will join Bristol Plays Music – the city’s music education hub based at Colston Hall – in a Beat Lab as part of their music curriculum from next month. Workshops will focus on the scientific concepts of engineering and acoustics, key elements of Key Stage 2, and include: 
- Conductive Music. In order to build their own digital musical instruments, pupils will be introduced to simple explanations of electrical circuits, building musical instruments with the Arduino-based Makey Makey boards and fruit and vegetables, and performing music in groups;
- Drawing Music Science. Batteries, switches, LEDs, LDRs, diodes, transistors, buttons and potentiometers will combine to form linear circuits drawn entirely on paper. Pupils will then create circuits with their own design using conductive ink. Flows of electricity trigger music making devices, for example a Raspberry Pi, to trigger notes. Hand-drawn electronic synthesisers will play songs.
Bristol Music Trust chief executive Louise Mitchell, pictured, said: “We are always looking for new ways to deliver our music education programmes that will inspire and encourage young people.
“Bristol Plays Music’s Technology Lab will bring together computer programming, electronic engineering, and design to support the music curriculum, offering children huge variety in their learning.
“Developing music participation in creative ways is part of our wider ambition to help make Bristol the UK Capital of Young People’s Music. Once we’ve carried out this trial project in local schools, we will consider how the programme could be extended to benefit children across the wider region.
“We are delighted to be continuing to develop our excellent relationship with Renishaw, one of the region’s major employers; it is a creative organisation which understands the importance of encouraging young peoples’ creativity for their future lives in the arts, science and engineering spheres.”
Renishaw is a long-term supporter of Colston Hall and the arts in Bristol. The Wotton-under-Edge based firm employs more than 4,000 people in 33 countries making hi-tech measuring devices and other equipment used by leading manufacturers across the globe.
Founding chairman and chief executive Sir David McMurtry said: “This programme is an opportunity for young children to gain a crucial understanding about different engineering skills and how they can combine in a creative way.
“Delivering scientific innovation is one of Renishaw’s core values and sponsoring this programme contains elements of both. We understand the value of supporting young people as they take their next steps towards a rounded education, where science and the arts play active roles in their early development.”
Colston Hall’s £45m transformation plans will enable Bristol Plays Music to expand its current music education offering in the future, reaching more young people and introducing further programmes. The Hall’s redevelopment includes a new world-class learning centre that will engage school children and adults from all backgrounds and all levels of ability.
