Church Street students learn about music and the environment during 'Bash the Trash' performance

With Earth Day approaching in April, students at Church Street School learned how music, creativity and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand during a thunderous "Bash the Trash" performance sponsored by the school’s PTA.

The show in the school auditorium introduced students to the inventive world of the Westchester County–based group that builds and performs musical instruments made from reused and repurposed materials.

The organization was founded in 1988 by husband-and-wife team John Bertles and Carina Piaggio and has spent decades teaching audiences how everyday objects can be transformed into instruments while promoting environmental awareness.

PTA Co-President Danielle Iglesias attended the assembly and said the organization was pleased to bring the unique program to Church Street.
“We’re happy to sponsor this event for the students,” Ms. Iglesias said, noting that the performance blended entertainment with an important message about sustainability.

Before the show began, Principal Myra Castillo thanked the PTA for making the assembly possible and encouraged students to think about how they can help protect the planet.

“Our PTA made it possible for you to enjoy this assembly,” she said. “Earth Day is coming up in April, so I want you to think about what you can do, learning from today, to help our planet in recycling.”

Members of Bash the Trash introduced themselves and explained that their unusual instruments are made from items that might otherwise be discarded.
Throughout the performance, they demonstrated how common objects — such as metal containers, hubcaps and even old refrigerator drawers — can be repurposed into percussion instruments that produce surprising sounds.

They also engaged students in a discussion about the environment and the importance of caring for the places where people live, learn and play. They explained that the “environment” includes everything from the Earth as a whole to local communities, schools and classrooms, encouraging students to help keep those spaces clean.

As part of the presentation, the group highlighted the “three R’s” of environmental stewardship — reduce, reuse and recycle — explaining that reducing waste is the most effective step people can take.

The performers also demonstrated how reuse can spark creativity, showing how discarded materials can be transformed into instruments that make distinctive musical tones. In one demonstration, a metal conduit pipe — normally used to carry electrical wiring through buildings — became a percussion instrument when struck with a mallet, producing different sounds depending on how it was held.

Students watched with excitement as the performers experimented with ways to change the sound of the pipe, learning along the way about vibration, materials and basic scientific principles that influence how instruments work.

The assembly also touched on environmental challenges, including the growing problem of plastic waste in the oceans. Performers explained that large areas of floating debris have formed where currents gather plastic waste, emphasizing the importance of reducing plastic use and finding creative ways to repurpose materials

By combining music, science and environmental education, the Bash the Trash performance encouraged students to see trash in a new light — not just as waste, but as an opportunity for creativity and problem-solving.