I love musical instruments, and have a collection of sound makers. Newest to the collection is a tiny DIY Theremin.
The kit was very well assembled and the directions were easy to follow. Within a half hour I had a small working theremin and could change pitch within an octave and control the volume with a motion of my hand.
I have a few ideas for a case, to add to the sound quality and aesthetics, as well as contain all the parts.
I do like washi tape, and have found it does better than cellophane tape on areas that need repeated folding. I prefer my sheet music to lay flat, rather than stapled, because it makes it easier to set on the piano or a music stand. Scotch tape or cellophane tape just doesn’t make a good hinge, as it easily tears lengthwise.
I start with a 1-2 millimeter gap between pages to allow for the fold, then apply a strip of washi tape on both sides of the gap. I trim the edges with scissors after applying.
As an added bonus, washi tape comes in pretty colors and patterns.
If you’ve read my blog for even a short while, it is clear that I am a dabbler. Many things catch my inquisitive attention, I like a puzzle, and I’m easily distracted. Making music takes more concentration, but I still can’t focus on just one instrument. My latest enamor is the ukulele. My kids gave me a tenor uke for Mother’s Day a couple years back, and I recently changed out the strings to make it a low G ukulele. I love it! I would like to build a small repertoire, to expand past the dabbling a bit, and my fingertips are reflecting the work. I feel that this fits in this blog because music is craft, even though it is hard to capture in photos.
My ukulele did not come with strap buttons, so I found some elliptical ones from D’Addario and drilled pilot holes at the base (there is a block of wood inside to support the screw), and the back of the neck.
I trimmed the ends of my woven band (see yesterday’s post), and treated them with white glue to make them stable.
I found two metal slide buckles at the craft store and used one as intended, sewing on end of the strap to the middle bar and threading the other end over it. The other buckle I modified by taking out the middle bar and using as a ring in the fold of the strap. In my leather stash I had an old black belt. The leather was thick but flexible, and great for making the end of my straps. I folded, cut and carved tear drop shaped holes in the belt for the ends of the strap. One end I sewed on using waxed thread. The other I riveted together.
I’m rather excited about having my ukulele on a strap since it makes it easier to hold at a good position for both my hands. I’m off to practice!
I geeked out at my chorus this week. We talked briefly about marking our music and some important things to notice when singing 4-part barbershop, and their homework was to go home and delve into their own sheet music (I did give them a cheat sheet). I made a poster. This was an old school poster layout, with a yard stick and rulers, done in pencil, then in ink. It gives examples of the tonic chord (or one (I) chord), rubs (notes next to each other), and octaves. My youngest wanted to help, so she marked the colored sections (bonus, she starts seeing the relationships too). Learning to recognize and hear these aspects helps us along toward making better music.
I admit I don’t use the colors, but I do use the numbers, and I’ve been naming as many chords as I can, not just the tonic. It is good practice.
Critters and Craft 