Kalimba Making

In this class, you will learn how to make a Kalimba, which is a traditional instrument of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. The kalimba is a handheld musical instrument with metal tines that are plucked to produce sound. Its body is often made from wood but other variants are also popular, such as acrylic and metal. When plucked, the kalimba tines produce a clear, bright, almost percussive tone. Often tuned to the C Major key, this combination gives the kalimba a very pleasant sound quality.

All supplies, including 1x6 inch pine for the body of the kalimba, will be provided. HOWEVER, if you have a wooden box or a relatively flat piece of found wood you would rather use, you are welcome to bring it! Students will have access to saws, a pyrography pen, and other woodworking tools to create their kalimbas.

Class minimum: 4

Class maximum: 8

About the Instructor:

Jeff Hellmann is the Ceramic and Sculpture Art teacher at Reeths-Puffer H.S.  He has taught art for the past 30 years, 9 in Indiana and 21 here in Michigan.  Jeff received his Bachelors from Indiana Wesleyan University in Art Education and Studio Art and a Masters of Education from Grand Valley State University. 

Jeff's passion when it comes to art is creating sculptures that incorporate several different mediums and making them all work together to create one unified piece.  Combining different types of mediums physically together is a challenge within itself, but making it aesthetically pleasing to the viewer is a whole other challenge.

ACWL-Nuveen classes are supported in part by grants from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nuveen Benevolent Trust.