Watch

Percussionist Makes Music Using Nature's Instruments

Creator:
Published:
December 19, 2023
July 20, 2020
Watch how this percussionist creates nature music.

Jesse Armerding used to make music on the streets of New York City. Now, he finds a better environment for his percussion music in nature. He uses natural elements, such as a hollowed-out tree trunk, to create his beats and melodies.

"There is a sonic treasure. And people are going by it all the time, and it's hiding in plain sight. That's such the theme of what's been fun about a lot of this."

Video Transcript

Meet Jesse Armerding: percussionist

Ipswich, Massachusetts

(Jess stomps and claps in the middle of a street that goes through a canopy of trees)

Jesse Armerding: See, I was doing Stomp in New York. It could be 3:00 a.m. on a Tuesday, and there's just always three to nine layers of sound going on. And there is with nature, too. I mean, if we stop and listen, there's like five sounds going on right now, but it just feels a lot more in line with my nervous system.

Jesse creates percussive music by foraging in nature.

I told one of my drummer collaborator friends, "You gotta come up and check out this tree." And he was like, "What?" I was like, "I promise you, I promise you, you need to see this. Just trust me."

“Forage”

(In a wooded area, Jesse and two friends drum on a fallen, hollow tree trunk with drumsticks)

(Camera pans across treetops)

(Jesse walks through the woods)

That was so crazy to me. There is a sonic treasure. And people are going by it all the time, and it's hiding in plain sight. That's such the theme of what's been fun about a lot of this.

(Camera pans across treetops)

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
December 19, 2023
July 20, 2020
On a related note...
Meet a Modern Peace Activist

Meet a Modern Peace Activist

Renée Roden

Saving Migrant Lives in the Arizona Desert

Saving Migrant Lives in the Arizona Desert

Grotto

Helping Kids Connect with Nature

Helping Kids Connect with Nature

Grotto

5 Steps to Becoming More Body-Inclusive

5 Steps to Becoming More Body-Inclusive

Jessica Ping-Wild

Entering the Convent at Age 23

Entering the Convent at Age 23

Grotto

Dare to Dream: Working on the Moon Landing

Dare to Dream: Working on the Moon Landing

Tamara Stacey

"Bike Man" Has Kept His Community Moving for Decades

"Bike Man" Has Kept His Community Moving for Decades

Grotto

What a Near-Collision Taught Me About Life

What a Near-Collision Taught Me About Life

Erin Spruit

3 Ways Introverts Can Maximize Their Gifts

3 Ways Introverts Can Maximize Their Gifts

Lauren Fritz

Slowing Down to Find Refuge in the Woods

Slowing Down to Find Refuge in the Woods

Lucy Cobble

How I Navigated Life as a First-Generation College Student

How I Navigated Life as a First-Generation College Student

José Radilla

Some Questions Have to Be Lived, Not Answered

Some Questions Have to Be Lived, Not Answered

Christian Santa Maria

Praying in a Deer Stand

Praying in a Deer Stand

Grotto Shares

Free Download: Stations of the Cross Booklet

Free Download: Stations of the Cross Booklet

Grotto

This Podcast Explores the Deepest Questions We Can Ask

This Podcast Explores the Deepest Questions We Can Ask

Cate Von Dohlen

From Abandoned Lot to a Fruitful Garden

From Abandoned Lot to a Fruitful Garden

Grotto

How I’m Rethinking the Ease of Disposable Items

How I’m Rethinking the Ease of Disposable Items

Clare Rahner

You are Wonderfully Made | #GrottoMusic

You are Wonderfully Made | #GrottoMusic

Grotto

3 Ways Anyone Can Cut Back on Plastic

3 Ways Anyone Can Cut Back on Plastic

Dan Masterton

Struggling to Say 'No'? Try Prioritizing Better

Struggling to Say 'No'? Try Prioritizing Better

Khang Tran

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.