2004-5 School Year
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It was an ambitious project - creating fifteen practice marimbas for long-term use in Hamilton's international performaing arts classes. Marimba expert Stephen Golovnin had a plan, undaunted enthusiasm, a knack for working with students, an interested shop teacher - Herb Ellis, and a great carpenter volunteer - Geoff Braden. With some wood donations from Dunn Lumber, some grant money from the National Geographic Education Foundation, and the support of the woodshop program, the project began.
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The first step was to measure and saw the lumber into appropriate lengths for the keys.
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Then each key needs to be tuned. Students compared the sound of the key they were working on with a completed key - and adjusted the pitch by shaving off more wood. An electronic strobe tuner was available for fine tuning.
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A frame is created, the keys are arranged, glue is carefully applied, and then, very carefully, the frame is glued to the keys. Folding legs are added as a last step.
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