Final Project Proposal

Musical Monkey Bars

An actual size set of monkey bars that play a different note of a musical scale for each rung that is hung from.

For my final project, I wanted to make a piece that forces the user to act like a child. I was having trouble coming up with an idea until I saw a piece by Jean Tinguely that reminded me of a playground. This inspired me to make a set of monkey bars approximately 8 feet long and 7 feet tall. When ever a rung has any weight on it, the bars will produce a musical note. Each rung should correspond to a basic music scale. This will be accomplished by a sensor at the end of each rung, turning each bar into an input device. When someone hangs on a rung, the switch will trigger and the note will play. Additionally, I would like for each bar will have a corresponding set of lights on the outside that will turn on when their note is played. This may not be possible because budget constraints. The bars will have a mind of their own, similar to Kelly Dobson’s piece Blendie. So, at random times when no one is using the bars, they will go off and play their own music.

Here is a rough budget

Timber-Bilt Monkey Bar Kit $26.47

This kit comes with 6 rungs and instructions on how to build a set of monkey bars, so my need for lumber, nuts and bolts may change based on them.

Pressure Treated Wood

7 8 foot long 2 x 4 $3.29 each $23.03

1 8 foot long 1 x 6 $05.75

1 8 foot long 1 x 4 $03.98

Nuts and Bolts

5” steel bolts $9.90 per 5 $19.80

Electronics ?

Speakers

Switches

Wire

Power cord

Lights