Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) welcomed children to discover the art of music-making with a tech twist at its “Make Your Own Electric Guitar” workshop. This hands-on experience for children ages 7 to 13 combined creativity, craftsmanship, and the basics of coding, transforming simple paper templates into functional electric guitars.

During the session, young participants sketched the shape of a guitar on thick paper, carefully cut it out, and personalised it with their unique designs. While some children meticulously drew string patterns, others added their own creative touches. Seven-year-old Yazabiya Pathan, enthusiastically decorating her guitar with a pink flower, shared, “I play the violin at home, but I’m excited to learn the guitar.” Another participant, ten-year-old Berna Alyouzbachi, drew a rockstar figure, channelling her dream to become a musician.

Instructor Mohammed Ali Hariri, a software engineer, guided the children through Scratch, a beginner-friendly programming language used to animate their guitars with real sounds. “Today, I configured Scratch to play guitar chords,” explained Hariri. “Once they complete their guitar designs, I introduce Scratch, where they can hear chords like C major, F major, G major, and A major as they test their creations on the computer.”

After finalising their paper guitars, children learned about circuits by connecting their creations to an electric board using copper tape, paper clips, and conductive materials. Hariri explained, “To produce sound, children touch the earth clip with one hand and the right clip with the other. Each part of the chip corresponds to a computer command, bringing their guitars to life.”

The children’s laughter and excitement filled the room as they strummed their way to music, inspired to continue experimenting with science and art beyond the fair.

The 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair continues until November 17, with activities and programmes catering to visitors of all ages. All workshops are free to attend. For more information, visit www.sibf.com.