Greetings from Robot Takeover Camp

July 23, 2018

When our Robot Takeover campers arrived on monday morning, all they had was a pile of wood, 16 servo motors, one controller, and a computer. Using their imaginations and some critical thinking, the students used these supplies to create a music-playing robot named Bobert.

Robot Camp The students spent the first part of camp dreaming up their robot. They collected instruments they wanted the robot to play and planned how they could attach motors to

play the instruments, also deciding which notes, chords, and percussion pieces their robot would play. The kids got creative with wood, screws, clamps (and yes even some duct tape) to assemble the robot.

Once the students got the robot functioning, they broke into groups and used GarageBand to compose a piece of music especially for Bobert, keeping in mind the limitations of their robot and the complexities of programming that composition. Each group worked on creating a program that told the controller which motors to move each 1/4 second. This took a lot of concentration, problem solving, and cooperation!

robot guitar Anybody who has worked with electrical and technical components knows we were bound to run into some problems at some point. That problem came on Thursday when our controller stopped receiving power! Luckily by Friday morning we were back up and running. The technical difficulties allowed the students time to learn how to play their robot compositions live as a band. Although not a planned part of camp, the malfunction also allowed us to have a discussion about real musicians playing the music vs robots. Which would you rather hear play the compositions? What are the limitations of both?

On the last day of camp, Bobert performed his songs for an audience of adoring fans/parents. It was an impressive sight, but I was most impressed with how imaginative, focused, and enthusiastic the students were throughout the camp! What a great group!

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Sunburst News - September 2025

September 1, 2025

Catch up on Sunburst’s latest news: The Sunburst Band Program, Music Together classes, community drum circles, free music classes, new instructors, and upcoming concerts!

Sunburst News - August 2025

August 1, 2025

August- Issue #96

5 Reasons to Start Playing in a Band

July 30, 2025

As summer break comes to a close, we’re gearing up for the next term of the Sunburst Band Program and would love to see some new faces this fall. Playing in a band is one of the best ways to progress as a musician, so we put together a list of five reasons why we encourage our students to seek out opportunities to play in groups—whether it's starting a band or jamming with a couple of friends. Progress Your rhythm, timing, and listening skills improve quickly when you start playing in a band or group setting. While private lessons and solo practice are essential pieces of the puzzle, playing with others introduces new variables—like tempo changes, dynamics, and coordination—that challenge you to stay in sync with your bandmates and adapt to each other. We’ve seen so many students level up after just a couple months in the Sunburst Band Program–the progress happens fast! Friends and Connections We love watching our students and their families become friends and our band program has been a natural starting point for many of those relationships. Some of our current bands have stayed together for years, and it's awesome to see them hang out outside of lessons and support each other at shows. Plus, one of the best ways to get gigs is through connections with other musicians! Motivation Playing in a band is super motivating because you're part of a group working toward an exciting shared goal. Whether you're learning a new song, building a set list, or getting ready for a show, the process becomes more exciting and rewarding when you're making music you love with people you enjoy being around. That shared energy turns practice into something much more fun and meaningful. Performing Performing can be nerve-wracking, but it gets easier the more you do it, and being on stage with your friends makes it less scary. We love seeing how our students' stage presence and confidence grow with each performance—it’s one of our favorite parts of being teachers! As we mentioned, shows are a great place to make connections with musicians who you’d like to collaborate with in the future. Simply put, playing more shows leads to playing more shows. Creative Outlet Music is a powerful tool for expression, and it’s important to have outlets for that at any age! Life is very fast paced for many of us, and it can be tough to pause and do the things you enjoy. Band practice can be a consistent anchor in your week—something you can rely on for connection, processing, and creating with your bandmates. As corny as it sounds, playing music is good for your spirit! If you’d like to know more about the Sunburst Band Program, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for more information. We also recommend talking with your private lessons instructor so that they’re aware and can help you prepare.