Build a Band
Prompt: How can you make three different instruments (a woodwind, a string, and a chime) out of everyday materials?
What we did
I was in a group with Tony Molloy and Robert Schinske. The first thing that we did after reciving the prompt was to figure out which three instruments we wanted to design and make. In the end, we decided to build a flute, a guitar, and a set of chimes.
Each of us set out on doing research on one of the instruments. I searched how to make the chimes, Robert looked up how to build a flute, and Tony did some research on the guitars. But as we did this, we realized that it was alot easier if we all worked together. So we all teamed up to make the flute first. Tony brought a pvc pipe in and then we cut it down to about 14 inches. Then we drilled some 1/8 inch holes into the pipe. These holes were drilled into spots were the wavelength would create a note from the C major scale. At the same time, Robert and I built a guitar frame. Then I brought in 5 guitar strings and we attached them to the guiatar using screws. That way, we could adjust the tension of the string and therefore tune the guitar. Then came the chimes. They were definately the toughest part of our project. Tony had already made a frame for the chimes and all we needed to do was cut them and get them in tune. With the help of Mr. Williams, we used a formula to cut the copper tubing into eight different notes. But when we played them, they all sounded the exact same. All of us tried to tune them, and we were all unsuccessful.
After we completed our instruments, Robert decided to make a rap. It was pretty bad, but at least we had a song to play if needed. Thank goodness that we never needed to play it, because it was horrible.
This is our guitar. As you can see, it has five different strings.
Concepts:
Wavelength - distance measured in meters from crest to crest of a wave
Amplitude - distance from midpoint to crest
Period - amount of time between waves
Frequency - how often vibration occurs
Wave speed - wavelength times frequency
Pitch - the different noted that we hear
Node - the area between waves
Medium - the material that sound can travel through
Interference - when two waves collide
All of the above concepts were new to me, but I did bring in some information that I had already know into this project. I play in the San Marin band, so I was able to bring in some of my knowledge of playing instruments into this project.
Wavelength - distance measured in meters from crest to crest of a wave
Amplitude - distance from midpoint to crest
Period - amount of time between waves
Frequency - how often vibration occurs
Wave speed - wavelength times frequency
Pitch - the different noted that we hear
Node - the area between waves
Medium - the material that sound can travel through
Interference - when two waves collide
All of the above concepts were new to me, but I did bring in some information that I had already know into this project. I play in the San Marin band, so I was able to bring in some of my knowledge of playing instruments into this project.
Reflection
I think that our project went fairly well. I think that we did really well on making the flute. It was easily the best of the three instruments. It could play a scale and it also sounded good. Another thing that went well was teamwork. Tony, Robert, and I were able to work together to get the project done and make the instruments. There were also things that we could have done better at. We could have found a better way to attach the guitar strings to the guitar frame. We should have found something that we keep the strings in place better than hot glue and screws. Another thing that we could have done better on would be the chimes. Our chimes were horendious - they weren't built all that well and they all sounded the same. Although we did put a lot of effort into building them, I think that with better material (i.e. copper tubing, more effective tuner) we could have made them alot better. Overall, I feel like we did well on this project, but with a bit more time and better items on hand, we could have excelled on this project.
I think that our project went fairly well. I think that we did really well on making the flute. It was easily the best of the three instruments. It could play a scale and it also sounded good. Another thing that went well was teamwork. Tony, Robert, and I were able to work together to get the project done and make the instruments. There were also things that we could have done better at. We could have found a better way to attach the guitar strings to the guitar frame. We should have found something that we keep the strings in place better than hot glue and screws. Another thing that we could have done better on would be the chimes. Our chimes were horendious - they weren't built all that well and they all sounded the same. Although we did put a lot of effort into building them, I think that with better material (i.e. copper tubing, more effective tuner) we could have made them alot better. Overall, I feel like we did well on this project, but with a bit more time and better items on hand, we could have excelled on this project.