Students making a thumb piano. All photographs by Suzy Simon.

As part of MISD‘s Summer Shakeup program, Ballroom Marfa is hosting Music Moves U, a workshop led by Dr. Kahil El’Zabar and his band, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. Led by Dr. El’Zabar, students build homemade instruments and then practice playing and improvising on these instruments. After practicing, the group has a dress rehearsal and performs a final show with the band. Students will investigate the properties of rhythm, ensemble performance, melodic and harmonic sensibilities, and improvisation, while learning about the history of music, team building, and personal expression.

Here are some of the images from the first two days of the program, including some of the kids’ finished instruments.

And don’t forget to come to the final show on June 19th at 7pm at the Crowley Theater!

Decorating some thumb pianos.

Shayleigh’s gorgeous zither

Beginning the instruments

Showing them how it’s done

Nia’s glam thumb piano

Lesly’s awesome zither

Dr.