October 24, 2010
Blue Man Group Announces Invent An Instrument National Program In Conjunction With Scholastic
Blue Man Group is proud to announce the launch of its Invent an Instrument National Program in partnership with education leader Scholastic. A unique combination of education, entertainment, and environmentalism, the Invent an Instrument National Program is a creative contest that fuses music, arts, and innovation with math and science, inviting students in grades 5-9 to build instruments out of existing objects.
Blue Man Group is famed for its unique, homemade instruments, and in the Invent an Instrument Program, students nationwide will compete to build a new instrument for use in a performance by Blue Man Group. The contest winner, selected by a panel of Celebrity Judges, will be flown to New York City, meet the Blue Man Group founders, and see the Blue Man Group show at the Astor Place Theater. A $5000 scholarship prize will also go to both the winning student and the winning student’s school. Finally, Blue Man Group will create an original composition using the winner’s instrument.
Blue Man Group has carefully selected the celebrity judges for Invent an Instrument, focusing on music industry luminaries who—like Blue Man Group—have shown time after time that they are willing to look at music in creative, innovative, and adventurous ways. The Celebrity Judges for Blue Man Group’s Invent an Instrument National Contest are: Grammy® award winner, actor, and founder of the Ludacris Foundation Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, record producer, musician, actor, VJ and activist Stevie Van Zandt, legendary pop music and video game music producer/distributor Nile Rodgers, multiple Grammy® award winner, legendary jazz guitarist and composer Pat Metheny and President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Joel Peresman.
Judge Chris “Ludacris” Bridges says, “My work with the Ludacris Foundation is largely focused on uplifting today’s youth through arts and music education, and Invent an Instrument is similarly dedicated to improving education by reintroducing creativity to the classroom. In my art, my life, and my philanthropy, I have always seen creativity as a force for positive change, and Blue Man Group and I share that philosophy. I know that our nation’s kids have creativity to spare, and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens when they apply this creative spirit to inventing an instrument of their own.”
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame CEO and Judge Joel Peresman says, “The mission of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is to educate people on the importance and significance rock and roll has on our lives and culture. Working with Blue Man Group on this project can help us extend that mission and reach more people of all ages.”
Judge Pat Metheny adds, “Blue Man Group has delighted audiences with a unique and detailed creative spirit since their inception. I am thrilled that they are initiating a program like this and really looking forward to hearing and seeing what people will come up with!”
An ongoing multimedia event that fuses learning and entertainment in a wholly unique, effective and engaging way, the Invent an Instrument National Program is designed to inspire and reward creativity while supporting education initiatives. Providing incentives built around current academic standards, the contest offers new, fun and interesting means for teachers to build on and support their required music, art and science curriculums. The program also supports a green initiative by utilizing existing/found materials (e.g. PVC pipe, plastic bottles, glass jars, copper piping, old car bumpers, old cell phones, etc.) that can be recycled and reborn as musical instruments.
Blue Man Group Co-Founder Matt Goldman says, “One of the biggest compliments we get from audience members at our theatres is that they feel invigorated, excited and re-connected to their own creativity while watching the show. Over the years, we began to realize there is no bigger accomplishment we could strive for than to encourage others to follow their passion and pursue their creative ideas, regardless of how outrageous they may seem.”
“The Blue Man character is very innocent and child-like–he looks at the world with a fresh perspective, he sees an opportunity for comedic, artistic or musical expression in almost everything. It’s a very playful and fearless state of being. Kids are similar in many ways, always surprising us with their innovative ideas. We believe that kids learn best when their creativity and innovation is valued in the classroom. Through participating in the Invent an Instrument Program, we hope teachers and students across the country will join our efforts and unleash their own creativity in new and exciting ways.”
As an organization, Blue Man Group strives to create work that is unique, original, and inventive, consistently identifying areas where new and unconventional approaches can be explored and developed. These values are applied throughout the organization, including in the development and construction of instruments.
Blue Man Group is seeking instrument submissions from music students in grades 5-9 that apply these values, as well as demonstrate creativity, originality, musicality, and visual appeal. Enter today at www.blueman.com/instrument.
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