thingsmusical

Thingsmusical is a term used to describe the practice of making music with everyday objects. It is not a single project or organization but a label applied by artists, educators, and enthusiasts to a range of activities that treat common items such as pots, utensils, and cardboard as musical sources or instruments. The term highlights experimentation, accessibility, and improvisation rather than genre confinement.

Origins and influences: The approach sits within a broader history of found-object music and experimental sound art. It draws on musique concrète, DIY culture, and classroom percussion traditions that encourage curiosity about timbre, rhythm, and spatial sound. Practitioners often emphasize process and listening over polished technique.

Typical practices: Projects may involve creating performances, installations, or tutorials where participants explore sounds produced by everyday objects. Techniques include striking, rubbing, scraping, and muffling items; sometimes objects are amplified or processed with basic electronics. Collaborations with traditional musicians and electronic artists are common.

Accessibility and community: Thingsmusical venues often include schools, community centers, maker spaces, and online platforms. The approach lowers barriers to musical participation by using inexpensive or repurposed materials and by inviting unconventional audiences to contribute to the sound.

Reception and scope: As a flexible concept, thingsmusical appears across educational, artistic, and online contexts. Critics recognize its value for creative exploration and inclusive practice, while noting that lack of formal standards may produce variable outcomes.

See also: found-object music, musique concrète, DIY instrument, sound art, sound installation, experimental music.