Unlike modern musical instruments which tend to be lean and efficient machines, traditional world music instruments aren’t as hampered by the standardisation of the modern world. Taking this as inspiration, workshop participants will learn basic techniques and then elaborate on them to create their own instrument inventions. Using found objects and materials available from any hardware store, instruments will be created with unique musical and visual character traits – shrill, kind, bossy, comforting or even flirtatious. And as an integral part of the design and building of their instruments, participants will explore the sonic and musical possibilities of their creations though hands on improvisation. This workshop will be suitable for anyone interested in exploring the possibilities of hands on sound making as well as developing new techniques for object based theater.

Brendon Bussy is sometimes called a sound artist. But he prefers the less threatening description of ‘mandolin player’, or just old fashioned ‘composer’. Except when he’s designing odd sounding musical instruments. Or creating a live electronic soundtrack. Then ‘inventor’ is good. Brendon creates useful sound for theater, and he lives in Cape Town.
http://brendonbussy.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/how-to-create-noise-makers-with-personality/