Category: Workshops

Marimba for Yinnar

Here is the collection of materials as they will presented to participants at the Marimba making workshop at Arc Yinnar In October.

As the workshop is held over just one weekend, I will cut the pieces to size, leaving only the interesting bits for the workshop participants i.e. tuning the keys and resonating pipes, assembling, final sand and applying finish.

kit

The Keys are made from  Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), the frame from recycled Vic Ash (Eucalyptus Regnans) floorboards and the tubes from Aluminium.

I have completed one and placed it at Arc Yinnar for folks to have a play of and a squiz at…..

front view

keys detail

If you can’t make it to Arc, here is a rough recording of the finished instrument (sound starts at 15 secs).  Thanks to Jon Madin for the hot cross parts……

Arty Gras workshops

For Arty Gras 2015 in Mirboo North I was asked to run a series of marimba making workshops open to anyone from the local community.  There was a fantastic response, with two adult groups building in the Grain Store and Bec Woodall from Mirboo North Secondary College bringing a group of music students along to one run in the Mirboo North Men’s Shed.  All participants lent their instrumenst for the public to play on the day of the parade, then got to take them home.  The satisfaction of making a tuneful instrument with their own hands proved to be a fantastic way of engaging people in making music.

arty gras workshop - Brad
Sounds great, Brad!