Udu Drum Project

Advanced Ceramics--Lesson Plan by Michelle Kern

The Udu

Percussion Instrument invented in Nigeria

“Udu” is the Nigerian word for “vessel” (container)

Sound is made from a soundhole cut in the side, and also from tapping on the belly with hands and fingers.

Materials Needs

9” plaster “slump mold”

Turntable

Rubber scraper

Paddle

Slip & clay

Techniques

Slump--draping a slab of clay over a form, usually plaster

Slab/Coil--strips of pre-measured clay attached in the round, in the manner of coil building.

Scraping & burnishing--use rubber scraper to polish seams and smoothen surface of clay

Paddling--use mallet or paddle to shape vessel

Begin with plaster moldSelect mold and turntable

Make sure plaster is clean and dry.

Rub plaster surface with powdered clay

Roll out slabs of clay--Udu Base Cut slab down

and form sections around plaster, filling and patching until clay is covering the entire top of plaster form.

Use Rubber ScraperImmediately use scraper to blend and smooth over seams and eliminate any lumps in clay surface.

Plaster draws moisture out of clay.

Allow clay to set until just leather hard--do not let clay get too dry on mold, or your project with SHRINK and the base will crack.

Make thick dish of clay and put scraps of paper on inside: press clay gently over the base.

This will support the Udu’s round base and prevent it from from being flattened.

Gently remove clay from slump mold.

Rotate so the base is resting in the support dish.

Use rubber scraper to blend and fill inside seams with slip.

Smooth edges of the rim.

Roll out a slab of clay.

Measure strips of clay into ribbons--1 inch wide

Slip ribbon of clay onto edge of Udu base, taking off any excess until edges touch.

Add about three strips per class period and allow to set slightly so clay does not slump from too much weight.

Blend seams.

Smooth and blend seams as you build upwards.

Remember to also blend and smooth the inside seams.

At this point, you will begin the next stage, which is to narrow the base of the Udu, building up to the neck of the instrument.

If clay is too wet to support its weight, it will collapse.

Tilt next ribbon of clay slightly inward to begin to narrow the top of the vessel.

Take extra care to make sure this slab feels secure before adding more clay on to next layer.

Blend.

Tilt next ribbons of clay inward also--leave opening of about 4 inches at neck of vessel. Smooth and blend out edges and seams of clay. Make sure the rim of the vessel is level and smoothed.

Rotate vessel on turntable and step back to look and see where piece seems lumpy or asymmetrical.

Use paddle to gently strike the outside surface to pat into rounder shape.

Do not strike too hard, can break or distort shape of clay.

Add clay from hole of neck upwards to create narrow opening in vase-like shape.

Keep smoothing all together, making vessel as seamless as possible as it is drying.

As vessel sets up to leather hard, tap the belly--can you hear a nice sound echoing back?

Mark the best spot with an X

Sound HoleTrace and gently cut out circle for the sound hole over the best sounding spot on the Udu.

I beveled mine for a finished look.

Surfaces--Pierce, Carve, and Draw!Experiment with texture to embellish the surface. Traditional pottery often relies on textures found in nature to decorate surfaces.

Experiment with bark, pinecones, leaves, twine, ??? to make patterns.

Carve designs. Do not leave plain.

Other Examples of Udus