Crafting Your Marimba, Fall 2014 edition

Crafting Your Marimba, Fall 2014 edition

The Fall edition of Crafting Your Marimba is set for the weekend of October 31 through Nov 2.

Weekend class with marimba builder Tom Bourne

Where: Bourne Marimbas in Bellingham, Washington USA

Cost: STILL only $250, plus your accommodation and food

Learn everything you need to know about building marimbas for your local school or marimba band. Since 1995, Tom Bourne has built around 1500 marimbas of all sizes for schools and invites you to his shop to share his knowledge.

We will focus on the fabrication and tuning of marimba bars, since that is the single most challenging aspect of making a marimba.

Also in the workshop we will explore the acoustics of marimba bars and resonators, along with ways of constructing and outfitting frames of all sizes. Discussions will include wood selection and various practical matters for builders, with plenty of time to address special concerns and gain experience with various woodworking tools. We can also discuss the possibilities for your marimba project, focusing on how to plan and design your instrument.

Bellingham, Washington is located just south of the Canadian border between Seattle and Vancouver B.C. It is near all kinds of great activities on the water and in the mountains. Bellingham has a modern airport with direct flights to Denver, Las Vegas and other cities in the western USA.

This class is suitable for adults and teens who can use, or are willing to learn to use, a few basic power tools and hand tools safely.  Helpful also is the ability to distinguish musicals pitches relative to one another (which of two tones is higher or lower, for instance). If you have any concerns regarding your qualifications, let me know and we can figure it out.

I can provide suggestions in procuring lodging in Bellingham, many options available.

Class limited to 6.

To sign up or for further questions, contact Tom at:

Bournemarimbas@gmail.com

Re-designed Minne M

Here's a look at my updated Minne M. First one shipped today.

The most obvious change is that the bars curve, a bit like a balafon or gyil. With a new way of suspending the bars on rubber grommets instead of metal eyebolts, the ringiness and clarity of the notes is improved. Weeellll, I can't say that scientifically for sure yet, but the first two of these I've made sound better in that regard than my "classic" Minnie Ms.

My goal was to design this instrument so that there are NO metal parts. Success! There are NO metal parts in it! The five plywood components interlock with ears that insert through slots, held together with a few pins - not unlike the Amish style tressle dining table I build for us many years ago. 

If you look close you may see a couple of the rubber grommets I am using to suspend the bars, in place of the traditional eyebolts. The new Minnie M stacks one on top of the other, and stands upright with a small footprint for storage - just like the old ones.

Like all of my instruments, the bars are removable, so you can swap out F# and Bb bars. Or order your own scale and tuning. Now if I can just figure out how to make these instruments buzz....

Builder Boards

Yesterday I visited The Foundry, a "Makerspace" in Bellingham that provides access to hi-tech resources (like 3D printers) to entrepreneurs:

http://www.bellinghamfoundry.com/

There I met Jack McKee, the maker of Builder Boards:

http://www.woodshop4kids.com/Hands_On_Books/builder.html

He was showing off his invention which is a set of interlocking boards kids use their IMAGINATIONS to make stuff out of. Yes, that's right, he wants kids to be creative! In school even! At 70 years old he seems young at heart, and before long he and one of the Foundry staff guys were on the floor, playing like tykes.

These are basically great big plywood Lincoln Logs and as a kid I would have LOVED to get my hands on these, just like I would have LOVED playing big marimbas.

I think Jack must be my professional doppelganger as we share identical phraseology regarding the kid-appeal of our respective products. I told Jack we are in the same business of building stuff for active, imaginative, collaborative and result-oriented kids.

Sweet and Dandy

Here's page one of "Sweet and Dandy" the roots reggae classic by Toots and the Maytals. This tune is a real feel-good gem.

The parts are easy enough, but I suspect the tenor and baritone parts will be a challenge to achieve a tight groove. You can hear this arrangement as rendered from my Finale file at:

https://soundcloud.com/thetwangbabies/sweet-and-dandy

... and make sure to listen to the original recording to hear how it REALLY goes!

Crafting Your Marimba, Fall 2014 edition

The Fall edition of Crafting Your Marimba is set for the weekend of October 31 through Nov 2.

Weekend class with marimba builder Tom Bourne

Where: Bourne Marimbas in Bellingham, Washington USA

Cost: STILL only $250, plus your accommodation and food

Learn everything you need to know about building marimbas for your local school or marimba band. Since 1995, Tom Bourne has built around 1500 marimbas of all sizes for schools and invites you to his shop to share his knowledge.

We will focus on the fabrication and tuning of marimba bars, since that is the single most challenging aspect of making a marimba.

Also in the workshop we will explore the acoustics of marimba bars and resonators, along with ways of constructing and outfitting frames of all sizes. Discussions will include wood selection and various practical matters for builders, with plenty of time to address special concerns and gain experience with various woodworking tools. We can also discuss the possibilities for your marimba project, focusing on how to plan and design your instrument.

Bellingham, Washington is located just south of the Canadian border between Seattle and Vancouver B.C. It is near all kinds of great activities on the water and in the mountains. Bellingham has a modern airport with direct flights to Denver, Las Vegas and other cities in the western USA.

This class is suitable for adults and teens who can use, or are willing to learn to use, a few basic power tools and hand tools safely.  Helpful also is the ability to distinguish musicals pitches relative to one another (which of two tones is higher or lower, for instance). If you have any concerns regarding your qualifications, let me know and we can figure it out.

I can provide suggestions in procuring lodging in Bellingham, many options available.

Class limited to 6.

To sign up or for further questions, contact Tom at:

Bournemarimbas@gmail.com

2 New Marimba Builders

It was a small class for the summer's 2nd session of Crafting Your Marimba, but it allowed us to achieve a set of bars and a frame for Terri from Las Vegas and Eric from Ogden. We got some help from an extra-terrestrial, as this photo proves.

More classes next summer, if not sooner. If you have interest in learning to build marimbas in a 3 day long weekend, let me know. In the meantime, off to new adventures!

3 New Marimba Builders!

Some shots from my inaugural 3-day marimba building class. The world now has 3 additional marimba builders: Ray from Walla Walla, Barbara from Maple Ridge BC and Randy from Pasco. p.s. next session for this 3 day class will be August 2-4. See the post below if you are interested, or if you know anyone who is.

Session Added - Crafting Your Marimba, with Tom Bourne in Bellingham Washington

Updating this event, I'm adding another session: August 2-4. This new time slot might be of special interest to folks attending the World Music Drumming event in Portland until August 1st. (BTW, scroll further in this blog for info and links to Will Schmid's World Music Drumming summer workshops)

Weekend class with marimba builder Tom Bourne - Two sessions to choose from: June 27-29 or August 2-4.

Where: Bourne Marimbas in Bellingham, Washington USA

Cost: $250, plus your accommodation and food

Escape the summer heat for a long weekend in Bellingham, Washington and learn everything you need to know about building marimbas for your local school or marimba band. Since 1995, Tom Bourne has built around 1500 marimbas of all sizes for schools and invites you to his shop to share his knowledge.

We will focus on the fabrication and tuning of marimba bars. As you gain hands on experience, you can expect to make and leave with a high and low bar for your planned marimba - the first step toward measuring out and building your instrument.

Also in the workshop we will explore the acoustics of marimba bars and resonators, along with ways of constructing and outfitting frames of all sizes. Discussions will include wood selection and various practical matters for builders, with plenty of time to address special concerns and gain experience with various woodworking tools. We can also discuss the possibilities for your marimba project, focusing on how to plan and design your instrument.

Bellingham, Washington is located just south of the Canadian border between Seattle and Vancouver B.C. It is near all kinds of great summer activities on the water and in the mountains. Bellingham has a modern airport with direct flights to Denver, Las Vegas and other cities in the western USA.

This class is suitable for adults and teens who can use, or are willing to learn to use, a few basic power tools and hand tools safely.  Helpful also is the ability to distinguish musicals pitches relative to one another (which of two tones is higher or lower, for instance). If you have any concerns regarding your qualifications, let me know and we can figure it out.

I can provide suggestions in procuring lodging in Bellingham, many options available.

Class limited to 10.

To sign up:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1VnnaSkNUwhX_9yAI0MsVwMIqf_EFB1YHjkVwIYdLHRI/viewform

for further questions, contact Tom at:

Bournemarimbas@gmail.com

This Just In from Antigua

Great shot coming in from Gilly Rainey and her Island Academy marimba group in Antigua, performing for the locals and tourists in St. Johns. Looks like alotta fun!

Summer Class in Bellingham, Washington - Crafting Your Marimba, with Tom Bourne

Weekend class with marimba builder Tom Bourne - June 27-29

Where: Bourne Marimbas in Bellingham, Washington USA

Cost: $250, plus your accommodation and food

Escape the summer heat for a long weekend in Bellingham, Washington and learn everything you need to know about building marimbas for your local school or marimba band. Since 1995, Tom Bourne has built around 1500 marimbas of all sizes for schools and invites you to his shop to share his knowledge.

We will focus on the fabrication and tuning of marimba bars. As you gain hands on experience, you can expect to make and leave with a high and low bar for your planned marimba - the first step toward measuring out and building your instrument.

Also in the workshop we will explore the acoustics of marimba bars and resonators, along with ways of constructing and outfitting frames of all sizes. Discussions will include wood selection and various practical matters for builders, with plenty of time to address special concerns and gain experience with various woodworking tools. We can also discuss the possibilities for your marimba project, focusing on how to plan and design your instrument.

Bellingham, Washington is located just south of the Canadian border between Seattle and Vancouver B.C. It is near all kinds of great summer activities on the water and in the mountains. Bellingham has a modern airport with direct flights to Denver, Las Vegas and other cities in the western USA.

This class is suitable for adults and teens who can use, or are willing to learn to use, a few basic power tools and hand tools safely.  Helpful also is the ability to distinguish musicals pitches relative to one another (which of two tones is higher or lower, for instance). If you have any concerns regarding your qualifications, let me know and we can figure it out.

I can provide suggestions in procuring lodging in Bellingham, many options available.

Class limited to 10.

To sign up:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1VnnaSkNUwhX_9yAI0MsVwMIqf_EFB1YHjkVwIYdLHRI/viewform

for further questions, contact Tom at:

Bournemarimbas@gmail.com

World Music Drumming Summer Events

Including Walt Hampton, going "Nationwide" with a week in Boston and a week in Portland.

http://www.worldmusicdrumming.com/workshop.html

Zimarimba Event at UW

Worth attending folks, and a great way to pick up some clock hours too.

http://music.washington.edu/events/2014-02-21/zimarimba-celebration

Click here for The Click Song.

Or for Under Pressure.

It was pointed out to me that some of my links on this new web site/blog are outdated. Here are a couple crucial corrections, the links to pdf files of two marimba arrangements/transcriptions I've done in the past year. The Click Song, and Under Pressure.

http://208.106.163.253/the%20click%20song.pdf

http://208.106.163.253/under%20pressure.pdf

Assembling a Big Bass

Alberta Bound

I always liked that song by Gordon Lightfoot, and indeed these three instruments ARE "Alberta Bound", specifically to Strathcona Tweedsmuir School in Okotoks. I wish I could drive them up there, they have wheels to make the trip. No chains for snow, alas.....

Boxy Bari

Got an order for a Box baritone - haven't made one of these in a while. This one has purpleheart bars and thinner sides on the box 1/4" instead of the usual 3/8". It REALLY resonates. This Bari is destined for Alberta, Canada.

Now Why Didn't I Think of That?

Here's a new collection from Beatin' Path Publications: In the Modes, Instrumentals for Orff Ensemble Using the Modes, Grades 4 to 8.

14 songs in 7 different keys playable on yer standard issue marimbas and Orff instruments. 

click here for a preview:

http://beatinpathpublications.com/CJL/ITM_Pre/index.html

Gitcher marimba hub caps HERE!

Some inconsiderate fellow told me that my wheeled instruments look like marimbas with lawn mower wheels. He was right! So now I am putting hub caps on my lawn mower wheels so you wont know that my marimbas have lawn mower wheels.

Reminds me of my favorite group from the 60's: Hub Kapp and the Wheels:

Zooming into the future: the NEW Bourne Marimbas website/blog

note: this is just a clumsy metaphor - DO NOT actually try this!

In this age of information overload it's good, once in a while, to hitch up your most important and useful stuff and leave the rest behind. So I am ditching my old web site and re-casting this blog as one-stop-surfing for my products, general info, maintenance advice, news from the school marimba world etc. Blogs are alot easier to update, trim and rearrange than web sites. Who needs both?

So welcome to the NEW Bournemarimbas.com. This column will continue to run the usual bloggerific bloggifications, while the column of links on the right side of the page provides info on my instruments, prices, maintenance suggestions and especially useful or interesting blog entries.

Now that we are all consolidated, may I point you to one past entry in this blog that I am particularly  proud of. It's that link on the right under "Highly Check-outable" that says "Watch Tom Make a Lowrider". Go ahead, give 'er a click and Zoom into the Future!

Minnie M

Big sound, little box! I designed the Minnie M in response to requests from parents wanting something affordable for home practice. The Minnie M is stackable for improved storage. It can sit upright and has 2 different handles for carrying. Versatile! The current Minnie M is 2 full octaves starting at middle C. $400, add $25 for optional F#/Bb bars.