music!

one of the songs that we've decided to do is green light - john legend. its quite a nice piece, i can be the main melody, arjimy keeping the tempo, nick the base and val the counter melody. this will be quite a challenge but were up for anything!
- BombSquad

hmmm...

i was thinking that rather making a plain xylo with no flats or sharps. i should give it a try and do make more extra keys. all i need to do is buy some more extra boards for the keys just in case if i fail to cut them. im thinking of also making the mallet headsout of some sort of plastic ball i can find around my house or maybe at micheals. ill alsoo water seal the xylo keys to give it that "crispier" sound for it. well, another day, another random blog..

my xylophone

i was browsing around google in i went across to this site where it teaches how to do anything like literally, anything lol. i took these steps from the website, but heres the url just in case. ull notice that ive edited somethings off of the materials and instructions beacuse ill be making my own mallets.

http://www.ehow.com/how_16680_make-two-four.html

Things I'll Need:
Foam Pipe Insulation
Measuring Tapes
2-by-4 Boards
Handsaws
Sandpaper
1/2-inch thin wood dowels


Step1. Choose a 7- to 8-foot-long two-by-four.
Step2. Cut off a 3-foot piece. This will be the low end of the xylophone.
Step3. Saw progressively shorter pieces at 2-inch intervals.
Step4. Sand the wood to prevent splinters.
Step5. Slide foam pipe insulation along the inside edges of a discarded drawer.
Step6. Lay the pieces of two-by-four across the drawer to form a sounding box.
Step7. Cut two 1/2-inch dowels to about 12 inches long.


Heres an example of a xylophone being played..

change of plans!

our official band name is the "Bomb Squad"
official instruments:
nick-uke
arjimy-violin
me-xylo
val-piano
we have other plans too, each one of us are going to make another instrument for the next song. we will prevail! >:D

Reasons why I chose the xylophone

Hmmm. Some of the reasons why I chose the Xylophone is because I'm in mallet percussion for the Vallejo High School Band, and mallet percussion is the only main instruments I play. Id say its one of the easiest instruments to put together, but at the same time, must be done with precise detail in order to have the correct balance on each key. Like for example, the keys must be placed on to the stand evenly in order to have a good sound. Other things like, if ure cutting boards for the keys, make sure you dont cut the next key too short or else, itll be uneven of a sound to have going up the xylophone & a waste of a perfectly good board. I also chose the xylo because it will bring out the main melody of our songs that we are going to perform at the competition. Well, thats some of the reasons why i chose the xylophone.

intro for instrument lab

Heeeyaaah. Soo here's a starter blog for our second quarter project. Today Mr.Tillay assigned us a lab for 3-4 people per group. Each person makes their own musical instrument that can play at least three songs with their band mates. In the end, each band will face the rest of the other groups to see who "slaps" the best. ahah. Yeap. Battle of the Bands.
Our group name is the "Bomb Squad"
Ill be stickin the xylo
Nick slaps cello
Val the violin
Arjimy be hittin tenor