Cool Schools: Learning The Blues, Building Guitars |
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Learning the blues and woodworking at the same time, students at Hammond Middle School are making their own guitars! A cigar box, a piece of pine for the neck, some strings and tuning pegs is all you need. Shop teacher Matt Cupples and Joe Youcha of ASF came up with the idea. ASF Managing Director Tom Tuttle, a string player himself, worked with the students. Not only did they measure, cut and build, but one of the girls laid out her fret spacing using a geometric representation of a mathematical series.She was thrilled that she was using algebra and geometry before she had taken either in school. Matt's teaching students how to use a drill press, router and ban saw to build it. The really COOL thing about it is local musician and blues historian "Curtis Blues" (Curtis Mailloux) is teaching the students how to play and enjoy their new hobby. The project is so popular the wood shop students now have an after school club called the Hammond Hammerheads, where they continue to build the instruments and practice new songs. The club includes about 40 total participants, 18 on a regular basis. Another area middle school heard of the project and ASF is working with them to create an afterschool carpentry club at their school, modeled on the Hammond Program. Link to the story: http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=155239 Link to the Hammerhead's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boat-Building-Pace-Class/171646326181857
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