This was the original proto type using very crude work, but the seed of a great idea was still there. These bars were
Maple, egad! It was all out of maple! Heavy and clunky sounding. I was so proud of this originally.
By
continually looking for ways to make it better, over the years many improvements have been incorporated. Telescopic legs that
are secure and light weight. Better bar material, which I owe Doug DeMorrow for that insight and suggestion. Thanks Doug.
The frame is lighter, and more stable, less likely to do any warping.
To
Ron Samuels of Marimba One I wish to say a special thanks for his support in many important ways.
It
is my hope to nuture the young student along properly, from the simple upright Piano, to the Concert Grand Piano Forte within
the realm of our instruments. Start smart, grow to love the art of making music with percussion instruments.
At the heart of all my design decisions lies the question "will this make the instrument
better?", There is a delicate balance in designing a instrument for students due to the cost factor. This is where so many
design teams go wrong. The designers either have no personal contact with the problems faced by a player, or the player has
no contact with the design problems. With me, I am the player with many years of dreams and experience, and I am the wood
craftsman. I dream of what is needed by the young budding student because this is where I have focused my teaching. I deal
with the younger student from where we all came from but many teachers have forgotten what it was like back there. Most often
because the ones that stay at it usually knew at an early age or soon there after had a focused attention to playing. I deal
with the range of they sign up for band because Mom and or Dad made them, so band is like math class for them. How do you
motivate and encourage this student? To of course the ones that want to be on that all important "DRUM LINE" in the High School
they will go to. How do you motivate this "drummer" to balance their keyboard musical skills with their drumming skills?
These questions lie at the heart of every design decision I make.
