Drinking Straw Panpipes Instructions

This was another project using straws to make noise that Griffin tried when he was getting ready for the Austin Mini Maker Faire, but only one person did it because it was more complicated to explain. The hard part is making sure that one end of the straw has an airtight seal. Tape kind of works, but can come unstuck when you wrap it around the end of the straw. Griffin was able to use hot glue to seal the end of a straw, but sometimes it makes the straw crumple. He wishes that he had one of the glue melters that is like a dish you dip parts into. Mom was able to use playdough to seal the end of a straw, but that only worked until it dried. Maybe modelling clay would be better since it doesn't shrink.

Drinking Straw Panpipes Project Instructions

·      Cut several lengths. There are some interesting ideas online about exactly how long to make the sections to make specific musical notes, but we just wanted to make noise!

·      Block the ends. Try tape, hot glue, modeling clay, or whatever will make a perfectly airtight seal.

·      Connect the set. Use tape or hot glue. It is easier to blow across the tops when the open ends line up, but that means you have to seal the other ends separately before connecting them.

·      Blow across the tops. This is like the sound you get when blowing across the top of a bottle. Also cool to try- blow across the top of a straw in a glass of water (the water seals the end). Then move the straw up and down to change the sound like a slide whistle.

References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaymX3qJRbQ

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Pan-Pipes

http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Pan-Flutewith-Straws/

http://deceptivelyeducational.blogspot.com/2012/04/making-magic-drinking-straw-flute.html