UduDrumProject
Advanced Ceramics--Lesson Plan by Michelle Kern

TheUdu
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.

MaterialsNeeds
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

Beginwithplastermold
Select mold and
turntable
Make sure plaster is
clean and dry.
Rub plaster surface
with powdered clay

Rolloutslabsofclay--UduBase
Cut slab down
and form
sections around
plaster, filling
and patching
until clay is
covering the
entire top of
plaster form.

UseRubberScraper
Immediately 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

SoundHole
Trace 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,andDraw!
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.

OtherExamplesofUdus