Make a Lint Roller Maraca

Here's a quick and easy instrument-making project for summer camp or school. Anytime I'm throwing something away, I explore its recycling options; and turning a used item into a musical instrument is my favorite recycling option! The other day, as I used the last section of sticky-tape on a lint roller, I immediately imagined a maraca. The handle fit perfectly in my hand, and most of the work was already done. It only took about 20 minutes to complete this project.

Materials:

Plastic lint roller handle
1 pkg. of small glass
   beads (seed beads)
Small funnel
Glue (plastic cement)
Toothpick
Paper and markers
   (or scrapbook paper)


Instructions:
There is a small hole in the top center of the large end of the lint roller. You may need to make it a tiny bit larger, but keep it as small a possible. Using a funnel (or piece of paper wrapped into a cone), put the beads into the cylinder.

Break a tip off of the toothpick to serve as a plug. Then put a dab of glue over the filling hole, stick the toothpick tip into the hole, and put another tiny dab of glue over it.

Create a colorful, geometric design on a piece of paper cut to fit the cylinder section of the lint roller (or use some printed scrapbook paper as I did because I was in a hurry on this one). Glue the paper around and onto the cylinder.

Please note: the maraca will sound best if you hold it with the handle on top (upside down). This will allow the beads to move freely rather than get trapped in the handle. Cha-cha-cha!

Water Pipe Trombone

Here's a quick and fun instrument project I shared recently at BYU Arts Express in my 'STEAM' session. 

When designing/engineering an instrument, always keep in mind that any musical instrument requires three mechanisms: 
                  (1) material or technique to produce VIBRATION, 
                  (2) material to act as an AMPLIFIER of sound waves, and 
                  (3) mechanism or technique to control or VARY PITCH.

Since the player's buzzing lips are the source of vibration, this ‘trombone’ only requires the pitch variation and amplification mechanisms, and thus, it's very easy to make. 

MATERIALS:
A length of cold water pipe (blue PEX, 1/2” diameter)
A length of hot water pipe (red PEX, 5/8” diameter)

A plastic funnel that will fit either over or inside one of your pipes 
    (The funnel can be trimmed to fit if its neck tapers.)
Stickers or colored tape for decorating (if desired)

TOOLS:
A ruler or measuring tape
A marker
A small hacksaw or sturdy knife for cutting
Duco Cement or other plastic cement for gluing funnel to pipe

PEX pipe is very easy and inexpensive to use. You will find it available at hardware and home improvement stores. I can cut it with small hacksaw (or even a sturdy paring knife), and its filings/dust doesn't have the respiratory dangers of PVC. 



Measure and mark each pipe, the blue, smaller one should be an inch or two longer than the red, larger one. For this instrument, I used 13.5 and 12.5 inch lengths. (Note: It's tempting to cut the pipes longer, but pitch control will be reduced by leaking air, and students' arms don't reach more than a couple of feet anyway.)

Determine whether your funnel will best fit inside or outside one of your pipes. You can trim the tapered neck of a funnel to fit your pipe. If you need to do so, ensure a snug fit by inserting your pipe into the open end of the funnel and marking where it makes contact with the neck.




Glue the funnel in place. Insert the wider diameter pipe over the smaller one. Decorate as desired. Press your lips against the end of your mouth pipe and slide the other pipe (with the funnel 'bell') in and out to vary pitch. Changing the speed and tension of your buzzing lips will also change the pitch.

                                                               Have Fun!

SUMMER UPDATE

Readers may have noticed my recent ‘leave of absence’ from blogging and music materials production. I have been in transition between jobs, homes, and cities, and the move has taken time and energy beyond description. I am happy and anxious to get back to posting!

In June, (yes, in the middle of moving), I had the opportunity to teach a couple of workshops at the annual Arts Express Conference, sponsored by the BYU Arts Partnership. This year, the theme was “Full STEAM Ahead,” referring to the inclusion of arts education (thus the “A”) with the ‘STEM’ subjects. Instrument-making aligned PERFECTLY with the engineering process and some important math and science concepts (fractions, harmonics, frequency, amplitude, acoustics, etc.). 

I had the opportunity to collaborate and present with a very fine dance educator, Angela Challis; and together, we helped teachers explore dance and music integrations, create instruments, and compose both music and choreography. The teachers who attended made it such fun because they were creative, collaborative, and willing to 'play' in more ways than one. It was an absolute blast!

Everyone who attended built a mini stomp stick (see previous post) and then composed layered ostinatos and movement using their instruments. Then we divided participants into four groups, and each group constructed a different instrument – (1) a mini washtub bass (post to come), (2) a water pipe trombone (new post), (3) a panpipe (previous post), or (4) a string-o-phone (previous post). When I get the instructions online for #’s 1 & 2, I’ll insert a link here, or follow my blog for notices of my new posts.












Constructing stomp sticks (left) and panflutes (above).



Participants created an ‘informance’ in which they played their instruments and danced in the conference's culminating event in the auditorium. I thoroughly enjoyed the creativity, collaboration and synergy of this event!

More Home-made Stringed Instruments - How to Make a String-ophone

I'm a music 'junkie' in more ways than one! (1) I am  definitely hooked on music. I can't imagine life without it. (2) I hear music in everything - movement, language, environments, machinery, and junk. And if you follow my blog, you know I get a kick out of making instruments from throw-away and found items.

In my last post about how to make a bottle guitar, I promised more to come, so here are a few of my chordophone gems. These aren't just noise-makers; they are instruments capable of a fairly decent tone and a pitch range between four and eight notes. I have made these with groups of 20-30 students at a time (having done the cutting and drilling ahead of time). Here's a demo video of the twist-top instrument (pictures and instructions below).

Materials
A plastic bottle with a twist-top lid (rigid enough to support string tension)
String - heavy fishing line, thin wire, or a piece of a broken guitar string
Two plastic pony beads or buttons

Tools
An electric drill  (Please have an adult do the drilling and cutting.)
An X-acto knife, pocket knife or small paring knife
Felt-tip marker
Scissors

How To
(1)  Drill a small hole in the bottom center of your bottle.

(2)  Mark the area you want to cut out for a sound hole (approximately 3 cm wide by 8 cm long, or 1.2 in by 3 in). Puncture the bottle with your knife in the center of the area you have marked, and then carefully cut to and around the inside edge of your line. Note: Avoid cutting the opening too big because it will weaken the bottle. On some bottles, you can use scissors to cut the plastic once the hole is started.

(3)  Tie one end of your string to a bead (or button) using a square knot. 

(4)  Twist the lid to the open position, remove it from the bottle and keep it close by.

(5) Push the free end of the string into the hole you drilled in the bottom of the bottle. Guide the string through the bottle and out the top.  Then push the string through the twist-top lid and screw the lid back onto the bottle.

(6)  Pull the string as tight as possible with one hand while turning the twist-top to the closed position with your other. 

(7)  Draw the top piece of string through a bead (or button) a couple of times, pulling tightly. Then tie a square knot under the bead and trim excess string.

(8)  Decorate with stickers or marker if desired. Enjoy! As in the video above, pluck the string through the sound hole and twist the lid to change pitch.

Here are some variations using various bottles (including a 2 liter pop bottle, a pancake syrup bottle, and a one liter pop bottle). In place of a twist top, tie the string to a clothespin or short wooden dowel and tip the stick to create tension on the string.

Here's a link to a great website by a fellow music 'junkie,' Nick Penny. Check out his video instructions for making a 'Poptar' with a 2 liter bottle:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he215SLuOLI

How to Make a Bottle Guitar

If you follow my blog, you know by now that I enjoy making instruments out of found items just for the fun (and challenge) of it.  I also love to help students create instruments that actually make music.

Making a good chordophone (stringed instrument), not just a look-alike, can be a challenging project. Through trial and error, I've found a couple of easy ways to create playable, decent sounding string instruments that can produce a variety of pitches.

In making any instrument, there are three main components to consider: (1) a source of vibration, (2) a resonator or hollow cavity to amplify the sound, and (3) a device or technique for regulating/varying pitch. When creating a stringed instrument, suspending the string while supporting its tension presents a unique challenge. Having a strong fingerboard and solid hollow body are keys to success. In this post, I want to share my bottle guitar ideas with some basic guidelines for creating these. 

Materials:

     Fingerboard - part of a yardstick or a paint stick will do 
          (Mine had paint samples already on it for 'frets.')
     Plastic bottle
           (Shampoo and dish soap bottles are pictured.)
     Small pieces of wood or plastic for nut and bridge 
          (I used a small Lego for one of my bridges.)
     String - fishing line, wire, or rubber bands 
          (Pieces of old guitar or violin strings work great.) 
     Stickers or markers to decorate (optional)

Tools:

     Electric drill
     Exact-o knife or small pocket knife
     Small hack saw if your plastic is extra hard
     Needle-nose pliers if using metal string
     Glue (to hold nut or bridge in place)
     Please have an adult do any cutting and drilling.

Instructions:

(1) Decide how you will attach the string to the fingerboard. You can attach it at each end which will require holes at each end (as in the green guitar) or wrap it completely around the fingerboard and connect the ends on the back side of the stick. Drill holes if needed.

(2) Design a nut (a small piece of wood or plastic that will hold the string above the fingerboard) and attach it to the top end of the fingerboard. 

(3) Design a bridge (piece of wood or plastic about 1 cm or 1/3 inch high) to insert under the string and suspend it above the fingerboard. 

(4) Setting the bridge aside for later, tighten your string onto the fingerboard (as tight as possible).

(5) Create the body of your instrument by cutting a sound hole (and plucking space) in the front/face of your bottle. 

(6) Cut or drill notches in the bottom and neck of the bottle to snugly fit and support your fingerboard. (Please study pictures below.)

(7) Insert your fingerboard into the bottle neck and slightly through the slot in the bottom of your bottle.

(8) Insert the bridge under your string(s).

(9) Decorate and mark finger placement if desired.

(10) Pluck the string through the sound hole with your dominant hand, and press the string against the fingerboard with your other hand to change the pitch. Have fun!

More chordophones to come in my next post. Thanks for stopping by!

Stumpf Fiddles and Stomp Sticks

Meet Joe, my Stumpf Fiddle. He has served as the percussion section for my high school fiddle group as well as my third grade hoedown program. He's great for getting students' attention, keeping a steady beat, exploring timbre, and improvising with rhythm patterns. As you can see, Joe isn't the typical Stumpf fiddle (if there is such a thing); most don't have faces and wear a hat. The novelty of naming him and making him a member of musical groups has worked very well with my students.

I built him on an old-fashioned mop stick - the type with a metal bracket to hold the mop. This gave me something to attach the head boards to. I cut two identical shapes out of 1" x 12" pine and screwed them together with the metal frame in the middle. 

Then, with a nail, I punched/hammered holes in the middle of a bunch of old bottle caps, and attached groups of three caps to the head using wood screws. (Wood screws are the type that have threads on the end but a smooth shank .) I only drove the screws part way in, leaving the bottle caps free to jingle.

Joe's 'outfit' can be changed or added to. Currently, I really like his 'ribs' - an old Jell-O mold that gives both a nice clang and a washboard-type sound. His standard equipment also includes an old wood block, a plastic bucket, and a bike horn. His jingles (bottle caps) provide a tambourine effect, and at Christmas, I like to tie on some jingle bells. I use a rubber ball or large rubber cap on the bottom of the stick, which when struck against the floor, serves as a bass drum.

Although I'm a string player, I didn't like having a string on this instrument because it got in the way and it wasn't loud enough to be heard over the other sounds. So I guess technically, this is a Stumpf stick. I also like to call this a STOMP STICK because it 'stomps' the beat and uses a lot of found-sounds, as does the famous group, STOMP. (Kids relate well to this.)

Stumpf fiddles are known by several names and have an interesting history. They can be very useful and FUN. Here's are a couple of links to brief histories of the instrument in its various forms and some basic instructions: http://www.stumpffiddle.net/history/   http://www.nyphilkids.org/lab/make_onemanband.html

Obviously, a classroom full of stomp sticks would be impractical and extremely noisy. So I developed this MINI STOMP STICK, which has a variety of timbres and can be played by tapping it on a desktop, book, or chair seat.  These have been a big hit with several teachers and their students. Older students can help make these, or a parent volunteer can help you put these together for younger ones. Either way, you will want to do a bit of prep such as cutting dowels to length and drilling small holes where the screws will be driven.


Click on the arrow below to watch a demonstration of this awesome little instrument in action.

For each mini stomp stick you will need:

A 16" length of a 7/8" diameter dowel
(You can get three from a standard 48" dowel)

One 1" wood screw

One 3/8" wood screw

Three bottle caps (and a couple of small, thin washers if desired)

A small tin can with corrugated sides (6 oz. tomato sauce  or fruit can)

An 8-10" length of quarter-inch dowel (mallet handle)

A wooden bead with a quarter-inch hole (mallet head)

Tools: hammer and nail, screwdriver, drill, large metal file, electric drill with a small bit, and wood glue

(1) Cut dowels to length. (2) Drill a small hole in the top end of the stick, and on one side about 1/3 down from the top. These will help the screws go in easily and prevent wood from splitting. (3) Punch holes in the center of each bottle cap and into the center of the can's bottom. (4) File ridges into the lower half of the stick on the front side (same side as the hole you drilled) about 1/4" apart. (5) Stack bottle caps (and washers) onto the wood screw and drive the screw part way into the front, leaving enough room for the pieces to jingle. (6) Fasten the can onto the top of the stick using the smaller screw. (7) Apply glue to the end of the mallet dowel and inside the bead's hole, insert the dowel, and wipe off excess glue. 

As with any Stumpf fiddle, students can experiment with combinations and materials. Here's a picture of a variation which produces three timbres instead of four:   



I would love to hear about any Stumpf fiddles or stomp sticks you create.

Make a Tube Drum

Tube Drum How-to

This is one of my FAVORITE drums to play, and my professional percussionist friends can't believe I made it. This drum costs $35 to make and yet rivals drums costing six times as much.

How I used this............














.....to make this:

                                











Materials List: 

A concrete pillar form (AKA Sono tube), 8", 10", 12" or 14" diameter, depending on the size of drum you want (available at major hardware stores)

Wooden embroidery hoop, one size larger than the diameter of the form/tube

Drum head, 3-4" greater in diameter than your tube  (a medium thick skin/hide or rip-stop nylon/pack cloth). I ordered the skin head pictured here from drumfactorydirect.com. 

Gorilla glue

White glue, clear-drying such as Elmer's brand

Mod Podge (or two parts white glue mixed with one part water)
 
Colorful fabric, (woven, not knit), width=drum height; length=drum's circumference plus 2"

Jute or flat braided trim

Tools: small saw, staple gun & staples, small clamps for gluing, scissors, foam brush

Note: If you want to create a Tubano apparatus, you will also need an 8" to 14" square of Masonite (depending on the diameter of your pillar form/tube) and a 4" diameter PVC pipe collar. I have not found that adding this feature improves tone contrast much or is worth the work on a homemade drum, especially if you use nylon cloth for the head. However, I will include basic directions and a link for more detailed instructions in case this is a feature you want to add.

 

1 - Determine and cut the drum height you want (2' for kids, up to 3' for adults). Measure and mark the height around the sono tube, and then cut it with a saw and/or box knife (or better yet, have it done at the hardware store).

 

2 - Reinforce upper edge. Cut the inner ring of the wooden embroidery hoop and trim it to fit snugly inside the tube. Apply Gorilla Glue to the inside upper edge of your drum, press the wooden ring into the glue, clamp it to hold it in place, and allow glue to dry.

 

2b - If desired, create and install a Tubano ring at this point (optional). See instructions at the end of this post.

3 - Shape and reinforce the bottom edge. Mark and cut out three arcs or rectangles (2.5" x 3"), evenly spaced around the bottom edge. (These 'open doors' will let the sound out.) Reinforce the bottom edges by gluing and clamping wood pieces cut from the outer ring of the embroidery hoop. 

 

 
4 - Soak the drum head in a tub of lukewarm water for about an hour. Lay the skin on a towel and blot it when you take it out of the water, and then immediately move to the next step. If using pack cloth in lieu of skin, soak it in hot tap water for ten minutes and blot.

5- Stretch and staple the head onto the side of the top edge, driving staples into the embroidery hoop. Important: Ensure even tension on the head by stapling at points that correspond with 12 o’clock and 6:00, 3:00 and 9:00, etc.  Continue stretching and stapling the head across the drum. Then trim excess close to staples.

 

 

6- Apply fabric and trim. Coat the outer drum body with Mod-Podge (or substitute 2/3 white and 1/3 water mixture). Quickly lay fabric onto and around the drum body and smooth out any wrinkles. Trim fabric if needed. Then apply a generous layer of Mod-Podge onto the fabric. Apply a line of white glue (dries clear) along the seam where the fabric edges meet. As the glue dries, you may want to check and press the seam to ensure it lays flat and looks neat. Glue braided jute, trim or fabric around the top edge of drum to conceal staples and add personality.
Enjoy!

Instructions for Adding a Tubano Apparatus:
(Do this between steps 2 and 3 above.)
2b - Place your drum tube on the Masonite sheet and trace the inner edge of the tube onto the Masonite. Cut out this circle with a hack saw.
2c - Next, center the 4" PVC collar in your Masonite circle and snugly trace the outside edge. Cut the 4" circle out (drill center to get started).
2d - Use Gorilla Glue to mount one end of the PVC collar in center of Masonite.
2e - Measure and mark 1/4 of the way up from the bottom of your drum tube.
2f - Insert the Tubano apparatus into the drum with the PVC piece facing toward bottom, and push it above your 1/4 way markings (so it can be moved down later).
2g - From the outside of the drum, drive staples a few inches apart around the circumference of the drum. (This creates a 'shelf' for the Masonite ring to rest on.)
2h - Push the Masonite ring down to rest on the staples and apply Gorilla Glue around the top edge of the ring inner side of tube.

Sorry, I didn't take any pictures of this process, but here's a link to another beautiful do-it-yourself drum with detailed pics of the Tubano apparatus (using an oatmeal container instead of a PVC collar): http://typeadoityourself.blogspot.com/2012/01/homemade-tubano-drum.html

"Glassical' Music Part 2 - Making a Glass Harp / Armonica

 

There isn't another acoustic sound quite like the glass armonica. Here's my easy-to-make, inexpensive version.  

 

 

Materials:
* Glass stemware or bowls with round, smooth, non-ridged sides 
   (It doesn't have to be crystal.) 
* Silicone adhesive
* An old platter, sturdy cookie sheet, or piece of plywood
* Permanent marker(s)

Line up your glasses on a table and tap. listen, and sort them from lowest to highest pitch. If your glassware is all from the same set, the pieces will be close in pitch, but there will be differences. (Sorting will extend your range.)

Next, fill the lowest pitched glass with an inch (or less) of water. Dip your fingers into water and firmly rub the rim of the glass at until is 'sings'. Identify the pitch this first glass produces by comparing it to another instrument or using an electronic tuner or phone app. You'll want to use the lowest note possible for your first glass so you can have a greater range, but your instrument will be more versatile if you create it in a common key such as C, G, F or D. So explore your best options for a tonic (first note of scale). If a note is flat, add some water; if it's sharp, remove some water. Once you have established your first note and its water level, mark the water level on the outside of the glass with a permanent marker and write the note name. 

Pour slightly more water into the second glass than you did the first, wet your fingers, rub the rim, and then tune the note it produces to the second degree of your chosen scale (by slightly increasing or decreasing water). Mark the water level. Continue this process for subsequent glasses/notes of your scale.

Note: Different scales (major, minor, blues, pentatonic, ethnic) and neighboring keys can be achieved with the same set of glassware. If you desire this versatility, mark each tone set with a different colored marker.

Once you have your pitches marked, empty the glasses and make sure their bases are dry. Arrange your notes/glasses on the base (platter or board) in a logical order and allow adequate space between glass rims. Apply silicone adhesive to the bottom of each glass, set them in place, and allow silicone to cure for a few hours. 


  

 

 

 

You can easily make larger instruments, but for classroom use and portability, a five to eight note set works well. (I lined a sturdy cardboard box with an old towel to create a case for storage and transport.)

 

Picture on left: Glass armonica being played in Rome, Italy.
Photo by Adrian Pingstone, Wikimedia Commons.






Link to a video of Ave Maria being played on glasses:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6DaVdILu_o

History of the Glass Armonica (Ben Franklin) and resources:
http://www.gigmasters.com/armonica/history.html
 

Link to an online, interactive glass armonica:

http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/musician/virtualarmonica.html
 

Making 'Glassical' Music - Glass Hand Bells

Glass can create such pure, musical sounds! Here's one of my 'glassical' music projects. These hand bells are easy and inexpensive to make, and they always fascinate students, colleagues and friends.

 

I've always been intrigued with musical sound. I remember discovering the pitch of our vacuum cleaner, refrigerator, and junk items as a child. So making found-sound instruments is a passion of mine and a FUN music education tool.

As for musical-sounding glassware, I've collected it over time, bought a set of crystal at an estate sale for a 'song', and turned the glassware aisle at my local thrift store upside down a few times (fastest method and inexpensive for a project). 

 

Materials List: 

       Stemware sorted by pitch
     Wooden beads
     String or strong thread
     Quick-grabbing clear glue
     Acrylic paint (optional, to color-code the pitches if desired)
 Tools: scissors, toothpick, permanent marker, bottle lids (or something of similar size)

Here's a picture I took during a visit to my local second-hand charity store. I was delighted with the quantity and variety of stemware they had. As I tapped pieces that interested me, I gathered the pieces of best quality and tone and placed them on the floor. Then I organized them according to pitch, from lowest to highest. Next, I narrowed my selection by choosing my fundamental note (G below middle C) and glasses that produced the pitches of the G major scale. I used my phone app tuner to check intonation. As you can imagine, all this tapping drew an intrigued audience, and I think a few customers gained a new appreciation for found-sounds : )

 After you've gathered materials (see above list), cut a piece of string for each 'bell' you'll be making,  measuring about twice the height of each glass. Thread a string through a bead, placing the bead at the half-way point of the string. Then tie the string in a square knot around the bead as shown.
(Repeat for each instrument.)

Next, holding the string ends together, dangle the wooden bead in the glass about 1" above the bottom, and use a marker to mark the string adjacent to the rim. (Note: This will be the distance from the rim where the bead strikes the bell. 3/4 of cup height is a 'sweet spot'.) Holding both ends together, make a knot at this point. (This will 
a good contact point
for the glue. Trim string ends. 


(At this point, you will need to work on one 'bell' at a time.) Put a generous drop of glue inside the cup at its base and use a toothpick to poke the knotted end of the string into the glue. Hold the bead for a minute or more while glue begins to set.







Invert the glass, placing the bead on a bottle lid (or something of similar size, even a piece of wadded-up paper) to keep its weight from pulling the string out of the glue. Let glue dry/set for a couple of hours.





 
Using a permanent marker, label the base of each piece of stemware with its note name. If desired, color-code the notes to match Boomwhackers (R) or hand bells by painting the wooden beads with acrylic craft paint.


I bought a small child's suitcase at the thrift store ($2) and created cardboard dividers to protect, store and transport these instruments, but I usually leave them out on a bookcase for display and easy access. Of course, I'm careful with these, but I've had the set in the top pic for four years and not had to repair or replace a note.