Extension Project #1 - Bamboo Pan Pipe

By: Twin 6th Grade Students

Step 1: Tools and Materials

For this instrument you will need a drill, long bamboo sticks, string, blow dryer that goes up to 1000 degrees, drill bits, glue, a sharpie and a saw.

Step 2: Measuring and Sawing

Measure and cut the bamboo into the sizes you want. Make them different sizes. The smaller sizes work better though.

Step 3: Drilling the Holes

Drill holes through the bamboo to give it a hollow center. It will be very wet if you are doing fresh bamboo. Make sure not to drill through the bottom, leaving at least half an inch of solid bamboo at the end of each pipe. Do not use a electrical drill because it will be too powerful and break the bamboo in half. Take your time and do it by hand with drill bits. In the end, you can possibly use the electrical drill once you are done to make the holes a little bit better, which is optional.

Step 4: Drying the Bamboo

Dry your bamboo pipes. You can dry it with anything. We tried drying it in the sunlight all weekend, but we ended up using a special blow dryer that gets up to 1000 degrees. We put it up to 500 degrees so it didn't burn the bamboo. Stand the bamboo in an upright position having the opening on the top, and aim the blow dryer though the holes. Wait a little while for it to cool down before doing the next step.

Step 5: Put It Together

Put it together with string. Once you put it together with string you should probably put glue on the string so it doesn't move around too much.

Step 6: See What Notes Your Bamboo Pan Pipe Can Play

In order to play notes on your Bamboo Pan Pipe, you have to blow it a certain way. You put the Bamboo Pan Pipe on the top of your lower lip and blow downwards. It is hard to master at first, but eventually you will get it. Just keep practicing.

The Notes that we got were: A5, B5, F7, C6, D6

Step 7: Result

That is how we made a Bamboo Pan Pipe.