Caribbean PVC Marimba Children's Orchestra

Michael Greiner, a neighbor and good friend, asked me to upload several Marimba videos for him (that's him on the left in the middle row). He currently teaches in the after school music program 'Smile A While' at Aveson Charter School http://aveson.org/ and constructs musical instruments in classes with students' participation.

Michael Greiner created this set of plastic pipe marimbas. On this clip are three generations of prototypes designed to be low cost for use by childrens' programming. The middle row were built with the help of the music class (the performers in this video) The top one (bass version) costs around $200 in materials. The mallets are home made using foam flip-flops mounted to paint stirring sticks.

The music is a Michael Greiner original titled Caribbean Fantasy. This recording was of a practice during the school year. The performers had about 4 months practice with this piece along with 12 Bar Blues, Ice Cream, a piece played on Wine Glasses and the Ukrainian Carol (Carol of the Bells) played on another created metal instrument.

Filmed at Norma Coombs primary school in Altadena CA in 2007.

*** Edited to Add ****
Wow, it looks like this video's hit YouTube's front page. Thank you for all the wonderfully kind and supportive comments!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• PVC
• Marimba
• children
• band
• music
• orchestra
• stomp
• Blue
• man
• blueman
• Michael
• Greiner
• Smile
• While
• Norma
• Coombs
• Aveson
• Caribbean
• Thongophone
• DIY
• Hand
• Made
• construction
• school
• fun
• kids
• project

[fuxx66]

Always nice to hear. I like this song. Good work by the children!

[PlayHanghang]

@fuxx66 - Michael is a musical wizard with the kids.

[sevenyearnight]

my favorite child is the one with the mustache.

[PlayHanghang]

@sevenyearnight - That would be the Music teacher Michael Greiner.

=)

[batphish]

how'd ya like to be that guy's neighbor...

[PlayHanghang]

I am.

=)

It's quite an experience!

[oudbrakkenstein]

im black, but i love to see white and black in pease !!

[chairde]

Every time I watch this I feel happy. The world is much better than it was when I was young. Thank God!

[mikayla807]

i listened to this at music class

[dicaenus]

I think that the point of this video is that one of them isn't a child.

[4E047RHH]

This has all the makings of a charity tour, could call it "Pipes for the Poor" Feed the mind, body,,,AND the Soul, Well done guys, I'd pay to see them play.

[fifulecc]

#0:18 the highest kid is doing something with paddles (changing?)

Have you noticed that before?

[weeearthlings]

this is ace

[sevenyearnight]

I know, I kid, I kid. And I pun too.