Turning Bottles and Buckets into Music: Chang Yuan-shuo Brings Healing Sounds to Rural Elders

In Kaohsiung’s remote communities of Cishan and Meinong, musician Chang Yuan-shuo has spent the past decade leading an “Arts for All” initiative that helps elders create music from everyday waste. A graduate of National Sun Yat-sen University’s music program, Chang Yuan-shuo began this journey in 2015, after being invited by the Hondao Senior Citizens Welfare Foundation to teach—an experience that blossomed into years of community engagement.

Seeing that many participants were in sub-healthy or early dementia conditions, Chang shifted the focus from performance to “the joy of the process,” helping elders rediscover their confidence through creativity.

With limited resources, he replaced traditional instruments with “eco instruments,” guiding elders to turn household items—from frying pans to wine bottles—into rhythm makers.

Chang has since expanded the idea into schools, where children craft their own “rain sticks,” combining creativity with environmental learning. His classes now blend music and inclusive education, inviting children with disabilities to perform alongside elders—creating harmony across generations, abilities, and communities.

 以下為中文對照

酒瓶水桶當樂器 張原碩環保音樂癒偏鄉長者

在高雄旗山與美濃等偏鄉社區，音樂家張原碩十年來持續推動「藝術共融」計畫，陪伴長者以生活廢棄物創造音樂。張原碩原是中山大學音樂研究所畢業生，2015年因弘道老人福利基金會邀請開課，意外展開長期投入社區教學的旅程。他觀察到偏鄉社區多為超高齡人口，長者常處於亞健康或失智狀態，因此課程強調「過程的快樂」，讓長輩重新感受「自己做得到」。
由於資源匱乏，張原碩以「環保樂器」取代傳統樂器，帶領長輩利用家中器物製作音具，從平底鍋到酒瓶皆能奏出節奏。他並推廣到校園，教學童自製「雨聲棒」，發揮創意並實踐環保理念。張原碩也將音樂課結合共融教育，讓身障孩童與長輩共同演出，彼此學習與成長。

 

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