Sounds of Music C

[hscmom]

I think a harp would be cool. The book Making Simple Musical Instruments by Bart Hopkin (our library has this book -- maybe yours does too) has a nice harp plan in it. And there is another book "out there" (don't remember where I saw it -- so check Amazon, library, etc.) that has a title like "Making PVC Instruments" and I think it has a harp in there too.

One hint that I think I read on this forum last year (and I apologize if it is THIS year and I am repeating what is already said) is to take pictures of YOU making the instrument so that nobody can accuse you of not making it. My daughter is making a fantastic instrument, one painful step at a time, and it requires some special tools that we are borrowing. We are documenting the process through photos. We'll bring them to the competition in case the judges doubt she made it herself. Of course, without pictures, a student should be able to discuss the construction process of his or her instrument (why he chose maple over ash, how she constructed the tuning pegs, how he knew how big and where to drill the holes, how he made the mallets...).

There are also plans on the internet for just about anything you can dream up.

Good luck.

[kateak]

Thanks for the advice! My partner and I are still trying to figure out what we will build but I think it would definitely be unique!

[chalker]

One hint that I think I read on this forum last year (and I apologize if it is THIS year and I am repeating what is already said) is to take pictures of YOU making the instrument so that nobody can accuse you of not making it.

This is REALLY good advice I haven't seen stated before. I highly recommend it for ALL pre-build events.

[march0024]

I built a flute that can play D4-D6, but the mandatory scale for it is C4-C5. Will the bonus points make up for the lost ones by the range?

It's still ~4 weeks until our first invitational, but because of finals and other things I really only have ~1-1.5 weeks to build another one.
Also, the flutomat calculator, with building a C Major flute, gives a few fingerholes that are way too far apart, and I can't adjust it to the right distances unless the holes themselves are either very large or very small.

Has anybody else using Doug Tipple's instructions come across this problem?

[bloods]

Anyone with experience building a violin/guitar-like thing, how do you handle the string tension? I'm making a cello, and I'm kinda worried that the tension of the strings will cause the wood (I'm using birch) to just snap...

[personasaurus rex]

What are people's opinions on the personal song choice? My partner and I want to experiment with an overly-mainstream arrangement, which sounds AMAZING I have to admit but not too sure how the judges are going to take to it. Thoughts?

[zyzzyva980]

Picking a song that appeals to all judges can be difficult, considering you never know for sure who will be judging you. I've had college kids to veteran music teachers. So long as it meets the following standards, it should be ok:
A) It complements or contrasts St. Anthony's nicely (In other words, heavy metal- probably not)
B) It is likely to appeal to a wide variety of the judges- or, no judges will *dislike* it (Sorry, but Justin Bieber just isn't going to work)

All in all, though, if it sounds good... then it's probably good.

[thsom]

Hey everybody. I built a set of chimes that I am laying up like a xylophone. (a xylophone with tubes) They are all at the correct frequency but since they are low they are VERY hard to hear and are VERY VERY quiet. How can I get them to resonate more and to make them louder. I don't have time to make a new one, invites are in a few days.

[zyzzyva980]

You might want to try a harder set of mallets, though this will diminish the tone quality.

[Percussionist]

Hey so the instrument I'm building has a range from C4 to E6, it can play the required scale from C4 to C5, but is it ok if it doesn't cover the allowable range? Will that greatly effect the pieces I play? I don't think I can change the range... Would I get points deducted or just not extra points?