MBMT 403

INTSRUMENT DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND

INNOVATION
MBMT 403
 Theories and approaches
• Design
• Constructionist
• Materialism
• Functionalism
• Innovation
 Design by Bradley (2010)
• Begins with design concept which is an idea
behind a concept.
• Any creation is directed towards solving a
problem.
• Is a framework of the object to constructed
• Is directed by style/motif, colour skim, texture,
shape, layout
 Materials
• Plant
• Animal
• Mineral
 Tools and machinery
• Cutting
• Drilling
• Polishing
• Hammering
• Grinding
• Joining
• Gripping
• Driving
• chisseling
 Principles of sound production
• Sound is energy
• Sound is that which we hear
• Sound is produced through vibration
• Vibration involves the fast movement
(frequency) of a material causing friction with
the surrounding air (waves)
• Sound is affected by length, thickness
(bulkiness), tension and environment
(acoustics)
 Sound producing devices
• Strings
• Air
• Bodies
• membranes
 Classes
• Chordophones
• Membranophones
• Aerophones
• Electrophones
• Idiophones
 Factors of production
• Land
• Capital
• Entrepreneur
• Labour
 Traditional and Morden
Materials and methods
• Traditional materials are obtained from the
environment
• Morden material are bought
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Trad methods and skills are handed over form
parents to children
• Modern methods and skills are learned
• Advantages and disadvantages
 Rationale
• To government
• Education
• Culture
• Environment
• Music business
 Construction Chorphones
• Rationale
• Design
• Innovation
• Materials
• Tools
• Construction
• -Chipendani
• - Chitende
• -Chidembo
• -Chimukubhe
• -Urutu
• -Sigaba
 Construction membranophones
• Rationale
• Design
• Innovation
• Materials
• Tools
• Construction
 Aerophones
• Design
• Innovation
• Materials
• Tools
• Construction
 How pipes produce sound
• Air in a pipe must always be balanced with the atmospheric
pressure around it.
• Moving air has pressure
• Air moves from region of high concentration to low
• When air is disturbed, it vibrates to produce waves with a
certain length, velocity (v) and frequency (f).
• Velocity can be calculated by multiplying frequency by
wave length
• The sound is determines by volume, length, pressure
 Cont
• Closed pipe
Length (L) equals to one quarter of the
wavelength
Open pipe
Length (L) equals half of wavelength
 Exercises
• 1. Is the frequency of a wave of 16 cm is 10
what is the velocity of the wind?
• If an open pipe is 20 cm what is the
wavelength of the vibrating air in this pipe?
• If a closed pipe is blown and the wavelength
of the vibrating air is 40 cm, what is the length
of the pipe.
• Is the frequency of a wave of 20 cm is 5 what
is the velocity of the wind?
• If an open pipe is 18 cm what is the
wavelength of the vibrating air in this pipe?
• If a closed pipe is blown and the wavelength
of the vibrating air is 60 cm, what is the length
of the pipe.
 Idiophones
• Design
• Innovation
• Materials
• Tools
• Construction
 mbira
• The word mbira refers to the entire instrument
and the keys
• What produces sound are the key.
• A key is plucked and it vibrates to produce sound.
• The pitch of the sound depends on the length
and thickness of the sound
• Soundboard is made from mukwa or mufenje
• The keys are forged from any wire with high
carbon content.
• Tuning is done by pulling the key up or down
 marimba
• Parts are the wooden keys, frame, buzzers,
resonators, mallets, string and separating
rubbers
• Keys produce sound when struck by a mallet
with rubber’
• Best wood is form mukwa or saligna
• The keys have nodal points which enable free
vibration
• Tuning
 clappers
• They are self sounding
• What vibrates are the particles in the clappers
• The sound is determines by the thickness and
length and also the type of wood.
 Shakers
• Gourd
• Plastic
• Metal
• Seeds
• Shakers need a handle
• Seeds must not be many or very few
• The amount of seeds depends on the size of the
shaker
• The timbre of the sound depends on the quality
of the materials of the walls of the shakers.
Caring
Servicing and Repairing
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