Dr. Waring offers a variety of instrument making workshops for all age groups. In keeping with the themes of ecological awareness and recycling, Dennis Waring shows groups how to make instruments from materials which are usually thrown away as garbage. Author of the books, Great Folk Instruments To Make and Play, Cool Cardboard Instruments To Make and Play, and Make Your Own Electric Guitar and Bass, Making Drums,  Waring is one of the most innovative instrument makers in the United States. By making musical instruments from scrounged materials, participants not only help our environment in a small way but also learn much concerning art and craft, acoustics and the science of sound, and gain multicultural insight and appreciation by examining the clever ways people of the world have created their magical, mythical, musical devices. 

For general audiences, simple guitars are made from small corrugated cardboard boxes, sticks and fishing line; flutes are assembled from lengths of water pipe; xylophones are fashioned utilizing scrap wood and twine; drums are made using industrial tubes, cans, and natural or synthetic drum heads. Younger children can build rattles, drums, and rain sticks from cardboard tubes and plastic and metal containers. 

For schools and community presentations, instrument making workshops usually follow the "From Trash to Tunes" assembly program (see "School Programs" on this website). Tools and most materials are provided for a nominal fee. Groups of up to twenty or so can be accommodated for each workshop session. Instruction for building instruments begins with a "Mr. Wizard" style presentation in which small groups of students watch or assist in building prototype instruments under the direction of Dr. Waring. Instruction time for each instrument prototype is approximately 1/2 hour. The actual building portion of the workshop is approximately one hour depending on age group and number of people. Instrument making workshops require several large work tables with four or five people per table.