Every Friday Chris Robinson unleashes improvised and hastily scribbled cheer or loathing on the animation community to be digested, swallowed or... expelled. This week offers a solution to the overuse of the piano in animation short films.
Dear animators, I know many of you adore the piano (especially in China, Japan, Taiwan, schools), but it’s become a problem. Don’t worry though, I’m here to help.
I would like to tell you about instruments not called the piano.
guitar fiddle percussion banjo organ flute lute harpsichord flugelhorn trumpet euphonium melodica pedal steel spoons hand claps knee slaps bass omnichord chapman stick yaybahar theremin zeusaphone wired fence throat singing washboard steel drum nellophone ukulele agung a tamlang bambo slit drum balafon glockenspiel handpan mbira accordion bugle didgeridoo fife ocarina knee drumming tuba whistling bell bird maracas kettle drum gong rainstick rattle tambourine triangle coffee jar zither windshield wipers tin flute trombone screaming child dog cat car horn double neck guitar bagpipe barrel organ recorder clarinet bassoon claviola cornet button accordion cembalet chirimia conch arm pit flumpet end-brown flute dulcian duduk cymbals french horn gralla heckelphone helicon jug kip ah mellophone musette de cour nose whistle piri chanting reed rehu faceslap piccolo siku sousaphone slide whistle tin whistle treble flute tonette valve trombone silence alto horn fretless bass appalachian dulcimer rake barbat berda car engine bike bell buzuq citole clavichord belching hawaiian guitar screaming farts koto headscratch mandolin ruan suka drone tar tiple tonkori steel guitar spinet stick faceslap eye rubbing mice (mallet needed for full range of sounds) coyote washtub bass anvil ankle rattlers barrel drum bongos brushes bobby mcferrin cowbell finger snaps friction drum hi-hat maracas rattle crying babies triangle tubular bells bottle tef tar tap dancing tibetan water drum typewriter washboard wooden fish spanking whip wood zill ebow keytar vacuum cleaner saw pipe glass harmonica
Hopefully you will find this helpful when it comes time to selecting the music for your next animation film.
Thank you for your time and understanding.
A well-known figure in the world of independent animation, writer, author & curator Chris Robinson is the Artistic Director of the Ottawa International Animation Festival.
