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
Designing
Prototyping
Prototype #1: Testing the action of a shortened lever
Prototype #2: Three working levers that feel like and move like the intended design
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