Brick by Brick
“I
am always experimenting with objects of all kinds to create new sounds, colors, and textures,” Brian Melick of Ravena, New
York, says. “With my son at a Lego BrickFair in Virginia, I watched two children and their parents build a very fl exible creation with a limitless off ering of Lego bricks, and it occurred to me that it was possible to create a fully functioning instrument that incorporates all the elements of a well-designed drum. I was totally inspired and up for the challenge. I had successfully created a few rattles and shakers, so why not a snare drum? “After I assembled the Lego drum shell—following a strict
credo to honor the original Lego brick and not alter it in any way, therefore no cutting, drilling, or gluing—I completed it with conventional elements so that I could tune the instrument and also really play it. I was taken aback by its musical personality. It has
a tight, dry texture, very woody sounding. The drum has found a permanent spot in all of my diverse setups. “Then it only made sense to me to create a bass drum. I wanted
to work with smaller, compact sizes and ended up with 16x16. When I tuned it up, mounted a pedal on the platform I created, and hit the drum, my mouth fell open. The kick has a powerful, warm, fat sound. I built a 10x10 rack tom and 12x12 fl oor tom, and I fi nd that they sing in most every genre of music and react very well to all implements. I am now in the process of building a 14x14 fl oor tom to add a little low end. So I get to make another drum—and what bad could ever come out of that!” Care to guess how many Lego bricks were used to make Melick’s four-piece kit? Here’s your answer: 8,016.
Photo Submission: Hi-res digital photos, along with descriptive text, may be emailed to
kitofthemonth@moderndrummer.com. Show “Kit of the Month” in the subject line.
Coming Up in Modern Drummer ADAM DEITCH OF LETTUCE DAVID SANDSTRÖM OF REFUSED
BUDGET CYMBAL PACK ROUNDUP • AND MUCH MORE!
Emilie R. Searles
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