On a trip to visit my daughter's family in the Olympia WA area, I got to attend an orchestra concert my grandkids were playing in. The SOGO or Student Orchestras of the greater Olympia Area are very good. The students are taught and supported by professional artists in each of their instrument sections such as violins and percussion. The end of the year performances are always the very best because the students have learned so much! I was certainly proud of my performers!
It made me wonder if I could pick the brains of the musicians to get their ideas of how to make some magical sound effects for my Children's Theater show "The Frog Prince." Their brainstorming ideas were everything from complicated to comical.
It made me wonder if I could pick the brains of the musicians to get their ideas of how to make some magical sound effects for my Children's Theater show "The Frog Prince." Their brainstorming ideas were everything from complicated to comical.
There is a scene for when the little Knights gallop across the stage on stick ponies. Instantly they all said that I should have someone following them using coconut shells for the "clip clop" sounds of hooves like the scene from Monty Python. Someone else said I could have a percussionist just play woodblocks for the clip clop sounds. (Practical but not as funny)
I also need to have a "POOF" sound for when the prince is changed into a frog --- and back again. Here are some of the suggestions:
1. Wind chimes rustling with a finish by a Chinese gong
2. Harp arpeggios and suspended cymbal roll with a finish by a bass drum and cymbal crash
3. Several flutes playing low very airy notes followed by gong
4. Use a synthesizer to create some weird sound
Then this, "Have someone shake a thin sheet of metal." To this I asked, "Where does one get a thin sheet of metal?" Answer, "I don't know. We always just had stuff like that hanging around at our house."
Preferably, I would like to have the magical "poof" sound produced live during the show. I also cannot have an entire percussion section come play the sound. As much as I'd like to own a Chinese gong, it is too expensive. And my synthesizer died a few years ago. However, I may follow up trying to find a thin sheet of metal. That suggestion actually sounds promising.
I welcome other inexpensive suggestions...
I also need to have a "POOF" sound for when the prince is changed into a frog --- and back again. Here are some of the suggestions:
1. Wind chimes rustling with a finish by a Chinese gong
2. Harp arpeggios and suspended cymbal roll with a finish by a bass drum and cymbal crash
3. Several flutes playing low very airy notes followed by gong
4. Use a synthesizer to create some weird sound
Then this, "Have someone shake a thin sheet of metal." To this I asked, "Where does one get a thin sheet of metal?" Answer, "I don't know. We always just had stuff like that hanging around at our house."
Preferably, I would like to have the magical "poof" sound produced live during the show. I also cannot have an entire percussion section come play the sound. As much as I'd like to own a Chinese gong, it is too expensive. And my synthesizer died a few years ago. However, I may follow up trying to find a thin sheet of metal. That suggestion actually sounds promising.
I welcome other inexpensive suggestions...
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