Project Melissa

As a percussionist who loves mallet instruments, practicing at home has always been difficult. Bringing home a school-owned instrument is usually not an option. My drive to fulfill this void inspired me to build my own. Although I faced many challenges, it was overall a very humbling and informative experience. While learning to tune marimba bars, I developed a greater appreciation for nature and the study of acoustics. I was amazed at how important the overtone series is in relation to the fundamental pitch. After repeating this process 61 times, I have greater respect for  simple melodies, knowing what it takes to produce just one note. Among the bars, I decided to experiment beyond the normal with the frame. I repurposed a standing desk frame to implement automated height adjustments. This also came with the perk of having height preset via the control panel. Aluminum structs were used for the bar supports to provide modularity. The instrument could easily go from 5 octaves to 3 for smaller setups. It also breaks apart into smaller pieces which is great for traveling.