Bash the Trash Environmental Arts

a CILC Content Provider

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Bash the Trash programs are about music, science, culture, arts and the environment! Centered around the concept of sustainability, we’ve been building and performing with found-object instruments for over 30 years, making connections to plastic pollution and climate change. 


Over time our programs have evolved into a wide range of musical and cultural experiences that go beyond homemade instruments. Our diverse crew of presenters offer a series of programs based on their individual artistic skills and cultural backgrounds, making connections with students through their amazing experiences. We’re eager to interact with audiences through the arts, Q&A and conversation to create true cultural and artistic exchanges. 


Hands-on instrument-building or art-making is possible in most programs using simple reused/repurposed materials. Bash the Trash offers workshop/performances and multiple-session residencies as well as fun and useful professional development for educators, all closely aligned to national and local standards. Plus Bash the Trash programs are great for special days like Earth Day, National Recycling Day and World Water Day! 

2023-2024

 

Programs by Bash the Trash Environmental Arts

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A Brief History of Musical Instruments

Join us for a whirlwind tour through the history of musical instruments - as told by instrument-builders! Starting with prehistoric evidence of the first instruments, we’ll journey through time tothe music of today - exploring how culture and...

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Bash the Trash Solo Performance Series

Bash the Trash performers come from a wide variety of musical backgrounds; unified in our love of science and the environment. Each performer presents an amazing solo show based on their particular background for up to four classrooms; or a...

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BTT Lost at Sea - A Plastic Pollution Odyssey

A virtual voyage exploring environmental issues endangering our oceans! Featuring our strange and wonderful musical instruments built from reused materials, we take students on an odyssey to the Pacific Gyre - a real-life giant floating island of...

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Design a Workshop with Bash the Trash!

Looking for a program with Bash the Trash but don’t see exactly what you need? Let's create a workshop for you! Bash the Trash has over 30 performers, each with a wide range of skills that include Music, Dance, Theater, Storytelling and more...

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Global Bash - A Cross-Cultural Musical Exploration

A virtual intersection of music, culture and social emotional learning! Navigate a variety of cultural backgrounds, discover unique and wonderful instruments and the musicians behind them. Each instrument teaches about the history and tradition of...

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I"shti"thi"ke Theatre - Transforming Native Tales with Shadow Puppetry

Storyteller Renee Sans Souci transforms her stories with Indonesian shadow puppetry techniques - blending contemporary and Traditional stories in new ways through Inshtinthinke Theatre! Students will experience a portion of her Prairie Puppet Show...

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Instrument-Building Follow-up Workshops and Residencies

Follow-up workshops reinforce the learning of our virtual performances; or go deeper with a 4+ session virtual Residency. Students work with our highly experienced teaching artists to build an array of musical instruments, and in the residencies...

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Instrumental Music Lessons with Bash the Trash Performers

Bash the Trash performers are skilled professional musicians and excellent teachers, playing a range of musical instruments. If you are looking for instrumental music lessons for your students get in touch with us to discuss possibilities.

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Professional Development - Building Musical Instruments from Reused/Repurposed Materials

Learn how to build a variety of simple but great-sounding musical instruments from found-object materials, explore the science behind how they work, and discover creative ways to use the instruments to enhance classroom and curricular activities...

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Professional Development - Enhancing Literacy with Musical Stories and Soundscapes

Transform your literacy exercises into fun multi-media explorations with simple musical instruments and easy connections - no musical training necessary! Found-object sound sources can energize a range of literacy exercises. You’ll learn how to...

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Saborrrrr! - Percussion In Latin America- A Musical/Cultural Exchange

Explore a continent of amazing instruments! Each instrument is rooted in the three main cultures of Latin America - Indigenous, European and African - and helps us understand the people, the music and the resources of this complex continent. Build...

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Spasm Bands to Spike Jones - Homemade Instruments in Pop Culture 1890-1966

A fascinating musical journey through the birth of Jazz to the age of television. Follow a ragamuffin group of young New Orleans street performers playing homemade instruments as they grow into influential innovators, with contemporary photos...

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Sustainable Sounds - Building Musical Instruments from Trash

Science, Sound and Sustainability - building musical instruments from found objects is fun and educational! We show kids how to build better instruments through science, using the cheapest possible materials. Along the way we explore concepts of...

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Talking Drums - A World of Musical Communication

Explore a world of musical communication with the amazingly versatile Drum! Your students will discover connections between language and drumming in music around the globe - - and right at home! Students can then build simple drums from reused...

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The Experimental Orchestra Mini-Residency

A instrument-building mini-residency with the simplest possible materials! Starts with a fun and educational performance, followed by hands-on instrument building, and culminates with a composition based on a a poem/passage that students are...

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The Science of Sound - A Hands-on Exploration for Classrooms

Building instruments is the best way to learn how sound works! In this fun and engaging 45” classroom workshop we’ll explore and demystify sound, vibrations, and energy. Students will go hands-on with simple instruments, see what slowed-down sound...

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More About This Provider

Type of Organization

Independent Provider of Content

Contact

Ian Bertles   ian@bashthetrash.com
11 WILSON PLACE
HASTINGS ON HUDSON NY 10706
9144781103
United States

https://www.bashthetrash.com/

Primary Disciplines

The programs of Bash the Trash Environmental Arts cover:

Art
Culture
Fine Arts
International
Language Arts/English
Literacy
Performing Arts
Problem Based Learning
Problem Solving
Professional Development
Science
Social and Emotional Learning( SEL)
History & Social Studies
STEM
Music

Awards, Quotes, Testimonials

Testimonials:


Performance:

“We got a lot of great feedback from the teachers. More importantly, our students LOVED it. They were so proud of the instruments they made. Thanks again for all your work!” - Episcopal Academy, Newtown Square PA


“WOW what a program!!!!! The messaging was amazing!!!!!” - New Lebanon Elementary School, Greenwich CT


“The best virtual program we’ve ever had…” - Lakeside School, NY


“The program went really well— it was educational, entertaining, and it went very smoothly. Thank you for all your hard work!” - Earth Day show for American Museum of Natural History


Professional Development:

"That workshop was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!  The presenters were on point with precise, supporting materials. It was so inspiring." NJPAC, Newark NJ


"This was a great workshop that really challenged me to be creative in ways I’ve never explored before.” - NJAEP - From Live to Livestream


“I won't be able to look at art in the same way… The group work/teamwork is priceless: learning to listen, speak up, compromise and work together are skills to last a lifetime!" - Oklahoma Arts Institute 


Residency:

“I have only words of overwhelming praise for Bash the Trash this year. Brian was SO incredibly patient and helpful as we navigated the technology, and I really am inspired by him as a teacher. I really mean it, that in my opinion he is an asset to music education. He ALWAYS, without fail even once, finds a way to give feedback that builds up a student and never criticizes or shut them down, which is, as I am sure you know, so incredibly important when students are composing music and generating their own ideas. As a fellow teacher I really admire and appreciate how much Brian cares about fostering excitement about music and composing. I also really appreciated Brian asking the difficult questions to our students about the environment and even the idea of changing a lyric from “men” to “all” (instead of men and women) shows how much Brian cares about creating a safe space and positive environment. Our students had so much fun and I cannot wait to share the final product.” - Glen Cove School, NY