In the year 2018, we started to manufacture the instruments. 15 prototypes of instruments have been developed from various materials: plastic, steel and aluminum, wood, rubber, textiles, leather,…. We aim to work with materials that are destined to end up in landfills or to be recycled. Repurposing is the message! During the realization of the prototypes, we constantly ask ourselves questions regarding feasibility and the honest message the project sends out. This is the biggest challenge we face every day. The constant search for usable materials, the concrete processing and tuning to the final result makes this project very intensive and very valuable. The bar is set very high towards the final result: creation of quality musical instruments. Instruments that have the necessary sound qualities to explore, play and listen to in a meaningful way. Each instrument has the necessary sound qualities to engage with it in an in-depth way.

Plastic materials, PVC tarps with eye-catching designs, dozens of gas cylinders, aluminum tubes from all lengths and thicknesses, wood from pallets, rubber inner tubes, PVC tubes from all possible thicknesses and lengths, textiles…. A first challenge is to carefully examine these materials involving several criteria.
1. specific properties of the material: size, length, weight,
2. quality: robustness of the materials
2. safety: no harmful substances during processing
3. quantity: to what extent are the materials frequently available from suppliers in order to build a sufficient number of instruments?

Based on these criteria, informed choices are made to work with certain materials. For the processing into musical instruments we have followed European guidelines regarding physical and mechanical properties and hygiene. Hereby we want to guarantee that the instruments we assemble under normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use do not pose any danger to the safety and health of children, youngsters and supervisors. You can find these guidelines here.

To protect children from hearing damage from the musical instruments, stricter standards are established to limit the maximum volumes for both impulse sound and continuous sound produced by such toys. Youngsters, children and supervisors are properly informed in advance.

As we wish to develop quality musical instruments, which therefore cannot be considered toys, are intended to be used in the actual performance of music. The instruments are designed for good sound and musical quality.

Following European directives we have observed here:
– the purpose of the product: to make music or emit sounds or provide rhythmic accompaniment at a particular tempo, or simply to make noise;
– the characteristics of the product: design and materials chosen to improve sound quality, level of detail, dimensions;
– the documents accompanying the product: the presence of elements of music theory, technical tips, diagrams and printed music;
– the place of sale: specialized stores
– the audience targeted by the product: realistic presentation + decoration
– the selling price.

You can find these European guidelines here.