Clay musical/percussion instruments...UDU, djembe..?

LarrySeiler · #1 04-22-2002, 11:35 AM

I'm attempting to make an udu...my first attempt.

Then, perhaps using the wheel and handbuilding methods will try to make a djembe...and will order a goat skin for it.

Just wondering if anyone here has experience that might give some hints.

I would imagine the udu has to not only be strong, but yet thin enough for resonation. thanks in advance...

Larry

DraigAthar · #2 04-22-2002, 12:16 PM

Good luck with the udu. I've never made one myself, but I have one a friend gave me as a gift. It's a fairly sturdy beast. I can post a pic if that would be any use to you.

My husband has dabbled in drum-making. I've never heard of a clay djembe (but of course that doesn't mean they don't exist!). All the drums the hubby has made are wooden. I wouldn't think clay would hold up very well to the tension required to string a proper djembe.

Here's a pic of a couple of hubby's drums, a djembe on the left (about 25" tall with a 12" head) and an ashiko on the right (a little shorter with a 10" head). I have to take the opportunity to show off his handiwork, don't I?

Draig

onefromheaven · #3 04-22-2002, 12:37 PM

Hi Larry,
here is a link for a clay udu, I haven't read the whole thing but it looks like you will have to do some coiling or other handbuilding techniques. I can offer some techinques, if you need the help just let me know.

http://www.udu.com/udu_html/uduhis.html

onefromheaven · #4 04-22-2002, 12:40 PM

another...http://204.29.171.50/framer/1000/def...g le%2Ecom%2F

I found some good links when I did a google search but for some reaso these links don't work........

Leaflin · #5 04-22-2002, 02:02 PM

Hi Larry
I have never made one but would love to see your progress.

Maggie that was a great site

Here is one I found.
http://www.ninestones.com/potdrum.html

LarrySeiler · #6 04-22-2002, 04:39 PM

here's some good online links of udo's, even mpegs for sound samples if you like. Also digeridoo's,

The djembe's have small holes on the sides, where pegs fit in, and then the skins are drawn taught to those.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/show...threadid=40689

http://claybeats.tripod.com/gallery.html

http://www.ninestones.com/begallery.html

your hubby's wooden ones are very cool! Thanks for sharing.

I used a hard plastic bowl to press clay into for a form, and am slowly adding coils to it. I'm thinking though, that I have to try and keep thickness to a minimum to get that "ping" resonant sound. I anticipate the first not working well, so my expectations won't be too high, but I'll learn from this first one.

I'll post some pics later...
thanks everyone...

Larry

onefromheaven · #7 04-22-2002, 04:59 PM

Larry,
Now that you have your molded base have you removed the plastic bowl to allow for shrinkage? Just thought I would ask as I don't have any idea of your experience with clay and would love to see this project be a success for you.

LarrySeiler · #8 04-22-2002, 06:06 PM

Well...I only have about an hour's work into it, and starting over is no tragedy.

Here's my thinking on this...I have the clay on the inside of the bowl, not the outside. Accounting for the nature of clay to shrink, I'm building the coils from the form of the pressed in clay up.

I'm thinking that as the clay dries, and shrinks, it will naturally release itself from the bowl/mold. The hard plastic is impervious or nonporous, so should not fight letting go.

As far as clay itself goes...I have a kiln, several electric wheels, and extruder and teach ceramics to students K-12. I've never tried the hard plastic bowl as a mold before. I thought about aligning the bowl with plastic first, but then thought..."what's the point?" the bowl is plastic.
I realize that the moisture of the clay is trapped along the inside edge of the bowl...but as the clay dries to leatherhard, I would think it would draw moisture away from the clay that is contacting the plastic. Its really experimental, because I've not used such a bowl as a form before.

I'm using a low-fire red clay, bisque's at cone 08, and glaze fires at 05-06.

Now...as a rule, from what I've seen...I'm not sure udu's are glazed fired. They are, I think... instead stained. Here's what I've got thus far- Note the quarter on the table next to the bowl for reference of size.

my plans are to use subtractive methods to inscribe designs/patterns.

Its quite heavy right now, and of course there is a lot of moisture content in the still wet clay. I'm thinking though, that I have to use a needle and measure thicknesses and try to get this clay much thinner than it is now. It needs to somewhat to dry a bit more each day, and perhaps add 2-3 more coils each day. More than that and I fear it might not support the weight. But...to get that "ping" I don't think it can be so thick. I'm using a wheel potter's rib for scraping and shaping, and burlap around a small 1"x 2" board to paddle also for shaping.

The way many udu's are made today is with slipclay casting into molds. Not the traditional African method of course, but they can get a flawless result. I'm going more earthy...or, do I have a choice? hahahaha....

Larry

DraigAthar · #9 04-22-2002, 06:13 PM

Hi Larry,

I just measured my udu drum for you. Its walls are 3/8" thick. It gets a decent ping when you play it.

Draig

LarrySeiler · #10 04-22-2002, 06:16 PM

Just had to look again Draig, at those drums...
very nice!!! Fun too!

Larry

onefromheaven · #11 04-22-2002, 06:31 PM

Larry,
I am going to sit back and learn from you here

I didn't realize the spectrum of your expertise. I will ask tho, How come you are not throwing it? If one couldn't throw an udu, would it be possible to throw two pots and then join them as another approach?

LarrySeiler · #12 04-22-2002, 06:32 PM

Thanks Draig....that's helpful...

now...I have to look thru my notes and see the amount of shrinkage from this clay...

anywhere from about 7.5% to 11% I think. Then, a bit of math, etc;

was yours made from a slip cast mold Draig, or wouldn't you know? Also, is yours glazed, or simply stained???

A nice break from painting...this is fun!

Larry

LarrySeiler · #13 04-22-2002, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kokopelli
How come you are not throwing it? If one couldn't throw an udu, would it be possible to throw two pots and then join them as another approach?

yes....you could, Kokopelli. And, actually...it would be easier, using callipers, etc;

I want to build one though first more traditionally with handbuilding....remembering I have juniors and seniors that I am making this while they are working on their projects.

I only have a couple kids that are pretty good at wheel throwing right now, none yet that have managed to throw a bottle shape. So...I want to get one process down that the average student could attempt to make. The former teacher did not believe in letting kids wheel throw. My feeling is, they may never get another chance. So what if clay goes flying? hee hee heeee...

Larry

onefromheaven · #14 04-22-2002, 06:55 PM

Good for you Larry, I love your attitude, let the students play! I think it is a great idea to bring together your talents for art and music. I am certain you are one of those teachers that students will remember.......... long after they graduate.

DraigAthar · #15 04-22-2002, 07:03 PM

Hi Larry,

Had to look again at which drums, my hubby's? They are fun. He's not an expert at drum-making - he's just taken a couple of workshops on it, but he seems to be a natural since his drums come out very nice! That djembe in the picture has a marvelous sound. I thought about learning how to do it myself and then I watched him making one. I had no idea there was so much work involved in turning a big chunk of goat hide into a playable drum. Soaking, cutting, placing, stringing, stretching, putting in the diamonds ... oi! I had to admit that my hands are simply not strong enough to do the stretching part. Heh. I'll let him do all the work and then I'll play with the finished product.

Sorry, total tangent there. Back to the udu drums. I'm pretty sure mine was slip cast, it certainly looks that way. I'm not sure about the glaze. It's shiny like it's glazed, but I don't know how to tell for sure - I'm not much of a potter. Here, I'll just put up a picture for you.

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