Building Simple Musical Instruments
Learn the fundamental properties of musical instruments. Investigate how existing instruments use them. Experiment with some instrument design concepts. Walk away with an appreciation of how instruments work, and a curiousity to build your own.
details
- when: saturday, april 18th, 2009, from 12:25 pm - 1:55 pm
- to attend: Please see the info page for more information on attending any of the workshops at the 2009 Boston Skillshare.
- facilitated by: Kristjan Varnik
lesson plan
The goal of the class is to get people to design and build there own musical instruments.
I want them to walk away thinking - "What objects in there home could be transformed into an instrument?"
We will start the class by examining the fundamental properties of sound.
We will then discuss a few instruments and how they function.
Next, we will break the class up into groups. Each group will be given a simple instrument, and a series of exercises to explore a sound concept.
For example, one group will be given a one string instrument. The will have to place this simple string object against
different objects and pluck the string. The will have to describe the resonant qualities of each object the string is placed up against.
The end of the class will involve each group giving a small presentation back to the class.
Optional, I may be give people a platform to present their own designs to a public audience.
facilitator experience
I have been building musical instruments for over 10 years. I work with software, computer code, music hardware, electronics, wood, and everything else. My work has been presented and performed at numerous conferences and events, both in the real world and in my imagination. My goal is to get more people instrument in making their own instruments and have fun doing it.
intended audience
All audiences with good ears. May involve Math.
pictures
