Project Plan (subject to change)

Project Overview

1. Study & Design
   1. Demo and Q&A on a variety of instruments.
   2. Work alone or with a partner on a specific type of instrument.
   3. Analyze the requirements.
      1. What factors need to be considered in evaluating design?
         (sound quality, flexibility, durability, cost, visual appeal, other)
      2. What are the major parts?
      3. What materials could each part be made from?
      4. How could they be connected together?
      5. What key challenges must be considered & overcome?
   4. Evaluate alternative designs and design elements.
      1. What are the key decisions?
      2. What are reasonable alternatives for those decisions?
      3. What permutations of these alternatives are most (or least) practical?
   5. Plan field trip(s) to gather information or materials.
2. Design Proposal
   1. Submit design proposal. (see Design Proposal Rubric and sample proposals below.
      1. Overview
      2. Requirements
      3. Design & Rationale
      4. Parts List (including cost estimates & availability)
      5. Tools List
      6. Planned Construction Process – itemized list of steps
3. Organize
   1. Form teams of 2-4 around most interesting or promising proposals.
4. Build
   1. Purchase or otherwise gather parts.
   2. Build the instrument.
5. Evaluate
   1. Demonstrate & evaluate the instrument (see Instrument Evaluation Rubric below).
   2. Practice & perform with the instruments.
6. Reflect
   1. Submit reflection report / letter of advice to future student(s). (see Reflection Report Rubric below).
      1. Lessons Learned: Team & Project Management
      2. Lessons Learned: Design & Construction
      3. Lessons Learned: Musical Instruments
      4. Suggestions for Future
   2. Submit confidential Process: Peer Evaluation.

Instrument Proposal - Examples

Resources

• Instrument Making
  • RhythmWeb Homemade Percussion
  • JunkMusic Yahoo Group
• Materials
  • http://www.homedepot.com Home Depot (in Whitehall)
  • http://www.lowes.com Lowes (in Whitehall)
  • http://www.mcmaster.com McMaster-Carr
  • http://www.grainger.com Grainger
  • http://www.onlinemetals.com Online Metals
• Misc
  • Project: Instrument Design: Tools
  • http://www.ponoko.com Ponoko

Rubrics

Design Proposal Rubric

Date:
Reviewer:
Presenter(s) & Project:
Try to include 1 complimentary and 1 constructive comment for each item.

Instrument Evaluation Rubric

Date:
Reviewer:
Presenter(s) & Project:
Note: Some criteria may be contradictory; do not attempt to maximize all ratings.

Reflection Report Rubric