Monday 27 September
Dark and Light, and collaged moths
Stu explains to the children they will be creating their own piece of music. It picks up on the theme of Towards Light and so is a piece moving from dark sounds to light sounds. He asks them to look at moth names and choose names for the dark and names for the light. This later becomes a spoken word chorus in the finished piece.
After they have written the moth names down with their designation into dark or light in their workbooks, we bring out the schools percussion instruments and other sundry items (including a couple of cardboard tubes and a pink plastic recorder) to improvise with clarinet, violin, cello and percussion within the dark and light moods. Once again, the children become part of the ensemble, listening and performing as part of a group. It is impressive how they tune into each instrument and pick up cues - coming in with appropriate sounds and becoming quiet so someone else can have their moment. Natural chamber musicians, each of them!
After lunch we start by showing the children the 10-minute film Katherine and I created about moths. We explain that I will be doing a session with them the next day to make a short film each, inspired by their own moth stories.
Towards Light - words by Katherine Pogson visuals by Claire Shovelton
Then we bring out patterned papers, scissors and glue for a collage session - again, each choosing a moth to render imaginatively into paper collage. The adults join in - it’s very therapeutic, making a good mess with paper and glue!
After school Ian and I go up to knitter and crofter Marie’s new bothy studio at the ruined croft Pund - she and her partner Thomas are reviving it, after a gift to them of the crofting land it sits on.
She has relocated her knitting studio to the bothy - a beautifully realised structure built by Bothy Stores with an amazing view down to Malcolm’s Head. Her studio is well-organised and cosy, with a stove. We have hot drinks and a good natter before heading back out into the driving rain.
(You can see Marie and Thomas’ progress at Pund on insta @pundinfairisle )
