Time-Out from Music

ETSI your friendly neighborhood robot

I'd like to dedicate this post to something that doesn't have much to do with music....at least not directly. However, it has everything to do with pure creativity, innovation and imagination -- ideas that all musicians young and old can benefit from!

I am extremely fortunate to have connected with an amazing art teacher in my district through the technology institute that I attended this summer. Becca Bailey had attended the Cardboard Challenge class and created ETSI, the friendly neighborhood robot. Made from cardboard, tape, markers, imagination and nothing else, ETSI inspired Becca to hold her own Cardboard challenge here in the district. (If you don't know where this idea of a cardboard challenge originated, check out Caine's Arcarde....this kid is the best!)

Working with her coworkers Lara, Megan and Nancy and Clara from district admin, they put together a crazy, beautiful event. From the chaos of cardboard flying everywhere, I saw kids, parents, grandparents and volunteers working with each other to create games, robots, dogs, buildings, working (yes, working) elevators, a replica of the State Fair Ferris Wheel, dresses, airplanes, and so much more. Kids were laughing and smiling....there was no fighting over supplies (!).....we were all one team working towards having fun and making something out of nothing.

I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. I'm working on a video of some footage that I took, but I'm having trouble with my video software so check back for that. In the meantime, here are some of my favorite photos from the day.

This doesn't even begin to cover the magic of the morning. It was one of those "you had to be there" kind of things. :) An experience of a lifetime, you might say! Thank you, Becca and Team, for hosting this challenge. I know it wasn't easy but you all are reminders of why we need arts in education. 

Please follow Becca and her cohorts on Twitter...you won't regret it!

@artwithbailey

@gagorogers

@mliveng

@techclara

@NancyWTech 

@planocc (the event's Twitter handle)

and of course, the originator of the Cardboard challenge @CainesArcade

And don't forget to search #planocc for all the action from the event itself!