Students change the sound of music

Music students from Cronton Sixth Form A level Music students have recently spent a day at The Heath Specialist Technology College in Runcorn, changing the sound of the schools Grand Piano as part of their study of an American Composer.

As part of coursework, the students are required to study an experimental piece of music. They have chosen the work of American composer John Cage, which calls for screws and bolts to be inserted into the strings of a grand piano, creating what is known as a ‘prepared piano’. This method completely changes alters the type of sound the piano can make.

The Head of Music at The Heath, Alison Dale, kindly let the Cronton students use their piano for the day.

After 2 hours inserting the all the screws and bolts into the piano the students demonstrated the prepared piano’s sound to The Heath’s Year 11 music students. They then spent an hour playing through the John Cage music and experiments with the sounds the prepared piano produces.

David Lloyd Mostyn, Music Lecturer from Cronton Sixth Form College said; “I would like to say a big thank you to The Heath Specialist Technology College, because of their help our students were able to set up the prepared piano and experimenting with how the piano’s sounds can be altered in a practical exploration and share it with the pupils at the school who will have also hopefully benefited from the experience.”