Preamble: I've done a lot of MaKey MaKey music instrument invention workshops over the past few years and my hope is that this series of posts will provide the same information to learners that I do in person. Please feel free to get in touch if anything I've written doesn't make sense or I can help you in any way: adam.bell@ucalgary.ca
Pre-Workshop: The first step is to come prepared...
1. Household Stuff
The adage, "many hands make light work," is apt for a music instrument invention workshop using MaKey MaKeys. In short, if everyone brings a few things we'll have lots of resources with which to tinker. Many materials will work with a MaKey MaKey, but only if they can conduct an electric current. Below are a few ideas/suggestions:
Pre-Workshop: The first step is to come prepared...
1. Household Stuff
The adage, "many hands make light work," is apt for a music instrument invention workshop using MaKey MaKeys. In short, if everyone brings a few things we'll have lots of resources with which to tinker. Many materials will work with a MaKey MaKey, but only if they can conduct an electric current. Below are a few ideas/suggestions:
Here is what the people at MaKey MaKey say on their website:
Conductive Materials
Here are a few things to try:
Conductive Materials
Here are a few things to try:
- Most fruits and vegetables work great.
- Lots of other foods work too. We've tried marshmallows, gummy candies, macaroni and cheese, cupcakes, shrimp, and lots of other things.
- Plants can work too. Try some leaves or flowers, but nothing too dry.
- Play-Doh, Model Magic and other clays work very well as long as they stay moist.
- People are conductive! Connect one person to ground, and another to an input, and you can trigger sounds when they high-five.
- Graphite from a pencil can work. Make thick, dark lines, and be sure to draw on a smooth surface.
- Foil and other metal objects will work. Try out coins, magnets, nuts and bolts, forks and knives, or pots and pans.
Beyond conductive materials, it's helpful to have connecting materials like tape, glue, and string.
Again, a few more tips from the MaKey MaKey people:
Craft Materials
When you're inventing, anything goes! Here are a few things we have enjoyed using:
Inflatable beach balls, paper plates, cardboard boxes, various types of soft and rigid foam, lego bricks, plastic storage boxes, stuffed animals and other toys, funny hats and other pieces of clothing, sheets of fabric, string, yarn, elastic, and paper.
It's also important to have around some tools for cutting, like scissors and exacto knives, and ways to stick things together, like hot glue, superglue, various kinds of tape, and clips or clamps.
Craft Materials
When you're inventing, anything goes! Here are a few things we have enjoyed using:
Inflatable beach balls, paper plates, cardboard boxes, various types of soft and rigid foam, lego bricks, plastic storage boxes, stuffed animals and other toys, funny hats and other pieces of clothing, sheets of fabric, string, yarn, elastic, and paper.
It's also important to have around some tools for cutting, like scissors and exacto knives, and ways to stick things together, like hot glue, superglue, various kinds of tape, and clips or clamps.
2. Computers and an internet connection
If you have a laptop please bring it. We'll be using browser-based software, which is free and requires no downloading, but an internet connection is required.
3. Excitement!
Here are a few videos to check out that will hopefully get you excited about the possibilities of what we can make together:
If you have a laptop please bring it. We'll be using browser-based software, which is free and requires no downloading, but an internet connection is required.
3. Excitement!
Here are a few videos to check out that will hopefully get you excited about the possibilities of what we can make together:
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