Building My Own Instrument: Project Blog

Our instrument displayed beautifully by Riccardo

Summary

This week in science, I put my knowledge of  waves and sound to the test by being given the task of creating an instrument. Through this project, i was able to learn about how PVC pipes can be used to create distinct sounds at different pitches through vibrations in the air columns. We took this concept and adapted to to create a PVC base flute. The initial vibration of our instrument occurs in the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece was angled in a way that allowed it to resonate through the tube. In order to create different notes in the flute we had to have precise measurements in making different notes. Through this process, I  was able to further learn about how sound is created and the differences between them.

Backward-Looking - What process did you go through to produce this piece?

In order to create this product we first had to get an 8 feet PVC Pipe. We then proceeded to cutting down 33 Inch off main pipe. After this, we saved 4 inch of the main pipe to create a mouthpiece. After this, it was time to drill in the holed for playing different notes. We did this by measuring the diameter of holes, calculating the distance from open end the holes,  aligning the holes with the help of a ruler, and finally drilling the actual holes into the pipe. After this we had to create the mouth piece by cutting a ⅜  hole, and shave sides to be angled so that it can resonate. We then proceeded to put together the instrument and secure it with duck tape.

Inward -Looking - What did/do you find frustrating about it?

Initially with creating this product, we found it very frustrating to actually get our steady sound going. This was particularly frustrating because we had to go through a lot of trial and error in order to achieve a successful mouthpiece. Initially, we though that we did something wrong with constructing the mouth piece. It was looking to be as if no sound would come through our instrument. As time went on, we realize that the problem was with the way that we were setting our embrasure on the instrument. We had to blow into the hole a certain way in order to produce sound. It took as a while to figure out but eventually we got it.

Outward -Looking - Did you do your work the way other people did theirs? In what ways did you do it differently? In what ways was your work or process similar?

The way that we created our instrument was pretty unique group. We saw that only 1 group had a wind instrument like ours, and was created in a totally separate way with different materials. We were however, among the groups that used PVC pipes to create our instrument. Because PVC is such a solid material, it makes sense why so many groups would use it as their main material. Through PVC pipes, the majority of the groups were able to create their instrument and successfully use the material to their advantage.

Forward -Looking -What would you change if you had a chance to do this piece over again?

If I were to do this project over again, I would most certainly change the way that the instrument looks. I believe that we could have made our instrument look way more aesthetically pleasing then what it looks like right now. Another thing that I would do over if I had the chance to is creating more in tune notes, as well as a better way for the mouthpiece to resonate. Because of the way that we created our mouthpiece, we couldn't get very solid and in tune notes except for a few so that is definitely something I would do over again.