Build-A-Band
BAMBOO RECORDER
We made a recorder out of bamboo for our wind instrument. We started by brainstorming ideas and I came to the conclusion of making a flute/recorder out of bamboo, because I have bamboo growing in my backyard. After we decided what to make, we searched up how to make bamboo flute and found a simple video on how to make it. I cut some bamboo from my house and we started by cutting a slanted hole, which would later help to bend the air as it passed through the flute. We also got a stick to carve into the reed to manipulate the initial air. We made a mistake with the first reed and had to scrap our first flute because the reed got stuck in it. It was pretty frustrating. Later, we cut another piece of bamboo and asked for some slight assistance from my neighbor. He helped us cut a better reed, and our next flute was able to produce notes. Our current flute has only three holes, but it can make 7 notes. The notes might not be correct, but it still works better than our first attempt. We discovered that using bamboo wasn’t the best idea because it slowly rots.
We made a recorder out of bamboo for our wind instrument. We started by brainstorming ideas and I came to the conclusion of making a flute/recorder out of bamboo, because I have bamboo growing in my backyard. After we decided what to make, we searched up how to make bamboo flute and found a simple video on how to make it. I cut some bamboo from my house and we started by cutting a slanted hole, which would later help to bend the air as it passed through the flute. We also got a stick to carve into the reed to manipulate the initial air. We made a mistake with the first reed and had to scrap our first flute because the reed got stuck in it. It was pretty frustrating. Later, we cut another piece of bamboo and asked for some slight assistance from my neighbor. He helped us cut a better reed, and our next flute was able to produce notes. Our current flute has only three holes, but it can make 7 notes. The notes might not be correct, but it still works better than our first attempt. We discovered that using bamboo wasn’t the best idea because it slowly rots.
Box Guitar
The box guitar was extremely difficult to make because there were so many factors that went against it working. Our original guitar was a rubber band guitar that only played one note. Stretching the rubber bands to different notes caused them to brake. So I decided to switch it to a fishing wire guitar. The strings were less likely to brake, so that fixed the main problem. The next problem I had was the strings not being able to play any hearable sound. The strings were too loose, so I put a block of wood at the top of the guitar to tighten them. This worked extremely well and the guitar could actually be heard. I then marked down each of the note lengths on the guitar so I could know where each one went. The guitar was now working! It works because of the vibrations made by the string, which causes the the air molecules to scatter, making the noise that reaches our ears. Holding the note closer to the place where you strum causes less of vibration, making the note higher.
The box guitar was extremely difficult to make because there were so many factors that went against it working. Our original guitar was a rubber band guitar that only played one note. Stretching the rubber bands to different notes caused them to brake. So I decided to switch it to a fishing wire guitar. The strings were less likely to brake, so that fixed the main problem. The next problem I had was the strings not being able to play any hearable sound. The strings were too loose, so I put a block of wood at the top of the guitar to tighten them. This worked extremely well and the guitar could actually be heard. I then marked down each of the note lengths on the guitar so I could know where each one went. The guitar was now working! It works because of the vibrations made by the string, which causes the the air molecules to scatter, making the noise that reaches our ears. Holding the note closer to the place where you strum causes less of vibration, making the note higher.
GLOCKENSPIEL
Making the glockenspiel was simple, we calculated the length of each pipe by seeing which frequency produced the right amount of frequency. With higher frequency of the pipe the higher the pitch. We cut the length of each pipe smaller than the one before it so it would create a higher note. We had an eight noted glockenspiel which created a full C scale octave. each metal pipe was supported by rubber bands which were held by screws drilled into two planks of wood two feet long at a 45 degree angle.
REFLECTION
The Glockenspiel was easy to make and we successfully made it in only one day. We thought about painting the instruments however we were pushed on time so we couldn’t practice on a song either. We were going to make a coke bottle xylophone however that was too strenuous and we trashed the idea.
Making the first bamboo recorder was fun, until we messed up and got mad at it. The video we looked at was simple, but the bamboo he was using was thin and easy to cut. It also had no dividers, which block the inside of the bamboo. When we made the second recorder, we had more help and created a better-working recorder. We drilled the holes backwards, making it harder to play, but it worked! We are thinking of making another, because our current recorder is breaking, and we can tweak it so we have 7 holes and more notes.
When it came to making the guitar we endured many problems along the way. Colin’s original guitar was made out of a flimsy box that made no sound when played. Colin took it home and made another. The strings wouldn’t stay because he had only used hot glue and tape. On his third attempt He screwed the strings to the box and it was finally successful. The guitar was definitely the hardest to make because of the short amount of time and many failed attempts. But in the end it sounded good and looking back, it was a fun-learning experience.
The projects went well even with the time we had. The instruments worked however we were rushed on time due to two instruments that didn't work so we made the other instruments last minute. I think I did well leading this group by explaining when and where to build however I think I should have listened to other ideas rather than just making my own, another thing that went wrong was that after our coke bottle xylophone didn't work then we just looked at other ideas from other groups and stole the idea of a glockenspiel.