Tunes from the Trash

Stringed instruments—like Estrella’s viola—need a hollow body, says Chávez. When sound waves bounce around this empty space, they get louder (see Making Waves). The men realized that metal cans or barrels could do the trick.

Chávez and Gómez experimented with different materials to see what worked best. They’ve found they can build wind instruments, like trumpets and saxophones, out of discarded plumbing pipes. They can use bottle caps for keys. To make the skin of a drum, Gómez has used old X-ray film. Hitting the film makes it vibrate, or shake, to produce sound.

Estrella’s viola is a stringed instrument. It needed a hollow body, says Chávez. Sound waves get louder when they bounce around this empty space (see Making Waves). The men realized that metal cans or barrels could do the trick.

Chávez and Gómez tested different materials to see what worked best. They gathered discarded plumbing pipes. They used those to build instruments like trumpets and saxophones. Bottle caps worked well for keys. Gómez has even used an old X-ray film to make the skin of a drum. Hitting the film makes it vibrate, or shake, to produce sound.

The Recycled Orchestra started with a few dozen students from the Cateura area. Since word spread about the group, more young people have joined. The group has been invited to play concerts around the world. 

Older students teach younger kids how to play and repair the instruments. “We do experiments every day to make new instruments or improve the ones we have,” says Chávez.

Playing a recycled instrument takes a lot of work. But the experience is rewarding, says Estrella. “Being part of the orchestra has been really extraordinary for me.”

The Recycled Orchestra started with a few dozen students from the Cateura area. Then word started to spread. Soon more young people joined the group. The musicians have been invited to play concerts around the world. 

Older students teach younger kids how to play and repair the instruments. “We do experiments every day to make new instruments or improve the ones we have,” says Chávez.

Playing a recycled instrument takes a lot of work. But the experience is rewarding, says Estrella. “Being part of the orchestra has been really extraordinary for me,” she says.