Designing a Portable, Practice Keyboard for the Carillon
The carillon is a bell tower instrument with 23-77 bells that weigh 10 pounds to 20 tons.
It is played by a single person depressing levers with their hands and feet.
Originating in The Netherlands in the 17th century, there are now more than 450 carillons worldwide.
However, with most carillon practice-keyboards locked away in bell towers, carillonneurs
like myself have difficulty practicing – and the carillon remains obscure and stuck in the past
Currently, carillon practice keyboards have a space-consuming 4'x8' footprint
and cost much more than the $1,000 maximum of typical student instruments
I am designing a portable, practice carillon keyboard for
my home and for carillon programs to lend to students
Design constraint: keep only the parts of the instrument that the carillonneur interacts with
Designing
Taking measurements of an existing, full-sized carillon console
Designing
Designing
Prototyping
Prototype #1: Testing the action of a shortened lever
Comparing lever action: 30" broomstick vs. 8” spatula
Prototype #2: Three working levers that feel like and move like the intended design
Goals of prototype #2
Whittling levers (with wild drop-cloth!)
Driving screws for lever hinges
Completed prototype #2
Benefits of Prototyping
Encountering and solving unseen issues during prototype build and testing
Using prototype as centerpiece for discussing further ideas and problem-solving …which I am continuing to design around
Thinking with my hands to avoid burying myself in lofty master-plans
Scheduling social deadlines to move project forward by scheduling prototyping session with someone else
Discoveries from prototype #2; next steps