SOUND OF CLAY
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INSTRUment WORKSHOP

sAT 11.30am - 1.30pm

SOUND OF CLAY
INSTRUment WORKSHOP

IN collaboration with  Aileen Gavonel Arenas

Handbuilding Pottery Workshop at Goodmood Pottery — Camberwell, South London
Join Goodmood Pottery in London for a playful ceramics workshop where you'll discover sound through clay, designing and making your own ceramic whistle with artist Aileen Gavonel Arenas,

This beginner-friendly pottery class in London explores how breath, form, and material come together to create sound, turning a small clay object into an instrument for listening, play, and experimentation.

Working hands-on with the clay, you'll give special attention to crafting the mouthpiece, where precision is essential, while the shape of the resonant chamber leaves room for experimentation.

And you won't need to wait until your instrument is finished to hear it. While the clay is still wet, you can already blow, listen, adjust, and test your creation. Making an wind instrument becomes an act of shaping sound by hand.

By the end of the workshop, you'll have a ceramic whistle uniquely your own: a small working instrument shaped by your hands and your ear, and a deeper understanding of how sound, material, and making connect.

    • Learn the basic principles of ceramic sound-making: airflow, air chambers, and apertures

    • Master the hand-building techniques for shaping a hollow resonant chamber and a precise mouthpiece

    • Discover how breath, form, and material come together to give a clay object its voice

    • Explore how subtle adjustments to form change the pitch and character of a whistle

    • Experience making as a way of listening, playing, and experimenting

  • We take care of everything for you, from clay and tools to aprons. Just show up and start creating, with no extra costs. Wait for about 4 weeks to arrange collection.

  • Studio Access & Clean-Up

    We kindly ask everyone to arrive on time so we can make the most of our session together. To help keep the studio running smoothly, please begin tidying up 15 minutes before the end of the session; this includes labeling and storing your work, cleaning tools, and wiping down your workspace with a sponge and water. These steps reflect standard ceramic studio practice and COSHH guidelines, and we really appreciate your cooperation.

    The Ceramics Process

    · Make your pieces

    · Allow work to dry (1 week to refine; 2–4 weeks before firing depending on size)

    · Return to trim, fettle, and optionally decorate

    · Dry fully before first firing (3+ weeks)

    · Return to glaze

    · Final firing and collection (approx. 3+ week turnaround)

    Clay Allowance

    Clay is included for workshop participants. There may be additonal charges per KG for clay if using large amounts. Open Access users and Members must buy their own clay. Acceptance of Terms By booking any class, workshop, event, or voucher, you agree to these terms and conditions.

    Class Validity

    Open Access passes and vouchers are valid for 6 months from purchase. Date-specific classes are valid only for the booked date unless rescheduled within 2 months. All bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable unless stated otherwise.

    Rescheduling

    To help us manage bookings fairly, courses and half-day tasters require one month’s notice for a refund. Thank you for your understanding—these guidelines help us offer a great experience for everyone.

    Storage of Work

    To help us look after everyone’s pieces, unfired work is stored for up to two weeks and must be clearly labelled. Bisque-fired and finished work is stored for 4–6 weeks. Any work that is unlabelled or not collected within these timeframes may be recycled to make space for others. Thank you for your understanding—unfortunately, refunds cannot be offered for recycled work

    Finished Work

    All pieces go through two firings before they’re complete, which helps ensure the best results. For this reason, finished work won’t be ready to take home after your first session—but we promise it will be worth the wait! Thank you for your understanding—unfortunately, refunds cannot be offered for recycled work.

    Firings & Equipment

    Estimated turnaround is 3 weeks per firing. Delays may occur. Over-glazed or excessively thick work will not be fired.

    Health, Safety & Liability

    Your safety is important to us, and we ask everyone to follow COSHH and studio guidelines to help keep the space safe and enjoyable for all. Goodmood cannot accept responsibility for injuries that result from not following these guidelines, and students may be liable for damage caused by misuse of equipment or materials. As part of the ceramic process, breakages, glaze variations, and kiln-related incidents can occasionally occur, and refunds cannot be offered in these cases. Thank you for your understanding and care in the studio.

    COSHH Guidelines

    Silica and ceramic materials can be hazardous when airborne. Follow all studio safety rules, clean using water only, avoid dry sanding or sweeping, and wear appropriate PPE when required. Ask staff if unsure at any time.

    Contact

    For questions, email hello@goodmoodpottery.com. We respond within 2 working days (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm).

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Aileen Gavonel is a Peruvian artist working across ceramics, glass, bronze, and installation. Her practice explores touch, ritual, sound, and material experimentation, creating sculptural objects that invite listening, play, and sensory engagement. She is completing an MA in Ceramics & Glass at the Royal College of Art in London, where her research explores the relationships between the body, memory, and ecology through material practice.