Turn Flowerpots into Musical Instruments
Flowerpot Music is a unique Make Music Day project based on composer Elliot Cole's flowerpot composition — a sonic meditation piece that anyone can play. Using simple mallets on terracotta flowerpots, participants create a beautiful, meditative group soundscape.
How It Works
- Gather terracotta flowerpots of various sizes (different sizes = different pitches)
- Free mallets are provided by the Alliance
- Follow the instruction sheet — the piece is designed for total beginners
- Everyone plays together in a meditative, ambient group performance
Why It's Special
- 🌱 Everyday objects become instruments — flowerpots from any garden store
- 🧘 A meditative, calming experience unlike typical music events
- 🎵 Composed by Elliot Cole — a real piece of music, not just noise
- 🌻 Visually stunning — rows of flowerpots being played in a park or garden
- 🤲 Truly accessible — no musical experience required
Event Ideas
- 🌿 Garden center performance — partner with a local nursery
- 🏞️ Park meditation — set up in a peaceful outdoor space
- 🎪 Festival station — invite passersby to pick up a mallet and join
- 🏫 School music class — an unforgettable lesson in found-object music
How to Request Mallets
Mallet requests are coordinated per chapter through the MMVT team.
Deadline: Mallet requests must be submitted by May 21, 2026.
Want to host a Flowerpot Music event? Contact the Make Music Vermont team at info@makemusicvt.org before the deadline.