Craft Cabin African Thumb Piano

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Craft Cabin African Thumb Piano

Materials:

crosscut saw
glue (white)
hand drill with drill bit
ice-cream sticks (four)
lumber (1/4 inch [6.4.millimeters] plywood, scrap blocks, and thin strips)
pencil
ruler
sandpaper
screwdriver
screws, roundhead (two)

1. For the top and bottom of the piano, cut out two rectangles from the plywood. Each piece should be about 6 inches (15 centimeters) wide and 8 inches (20 centimeters) long. Sand the sides and edges of both pieces.

2. Cut four blocks. Each block should be about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) thick and 1 inch long on each side.

Sand the blocks. Then glue them between the top and bottom pieces. Put a brick or heavy book on the top piece. Let the glue dry.

3. Cut three crossbars (A, B, and C), each about 1/2 inch (12 millimeters) wide and 6 inches (15 millimeters) long. One crossbar should be thicker than the others. Sand the crossbars.

Glue crossbars A and B to the top of the piano, about 3/4 inch (2 centimeters) apart. Use the thick crossbar for crossbar A.

4. Drill a hole about 1/2 inch (12 millimeters) from each end of crossbar C.

5. Screw crossbar C to the piano top between crossbars A and B. Use roundhead screws that will not go all the way through the piano top. Do not tighten the screws yet.

6. Slide four ice-cream sticks under crossbar C. Position the sticks on crossbars A and B so the ends resting on crossbar A are different lengths. This will make each one sound different. Tighten the scews to hold the sticks in place.

To play your African thumb piano, hold the piano in both hands. Snap the ice-cream sticks with your thumbs until you create a rhythm you like. Most African music is played on drums, but stringed instruments and woodwinds are also used to make pleasing sounds and rhythms.