Wak-a-Tubes stand - holds up to 13 tubes

The PP798 Wak-a-Tube stand from Percussion Plus provides storage for a complete chromatic octave of Wak-a-Tubes. It has a row of eight holes to accommodate the PP790 diatonic set, and a second set of 5 holes positioned so that the PP791 chromatic notes can be arranged in the appropriate positions for the chromatic scale.

As well as being a great way to store the tubes and protect the ends from damage, a PP798 stand filled with Wak-a-Tubes also makes a colourful display in the classroom or home.

The tubes can also be played with beaters whilst in the stand, although the tone will be muted on account of one end of the tubes being closed off.

What are Wak-a-Tubes?

Wak-a-Tubes are brightly coloured percussion instruments made from different lengths of plastic tubing. Each different length has a different pitch/note and a different colour. They’re fun and easy for musicians of all ages to play, and they're a simple and inexpensive introduction to western scale music making. And they’re virtually indestructible!

Wak-a-Tubes are manufactured in the Percussion Plus workshops in Leicestershire and are supplied in multi-use packaging made of 100% recyclable materials.

How do you play?

You can whack them against a hard or firm surface (such as your knee), hit them against each other, or lay them out on a flat surface and hit them with plastic or wooden beaters. For the best tone, strike the playing surface a few inches from the end of the tube.

The bigger the tube, the lower its pitch. You can produce chords/harmony by hitting two different length tubes against each other.

You can experiment with dynamics (volume) and timbre by varying the material the tubes are hit against, and the speed with which they are struck.

Using Wak-a-tubes in groups

Playing Wak-a-Tubes in a group is a great way to learn about teamwork and ensemble musicianship, while having lots of fun. This has made them very popular with schools. They are also widely used in corporate team building exercises and events due to the universal appeal of bright colours and noise! The simple playing technique breaks down barriers to creativity and levels the playing field, allowing the least and the most musically inclined to play and have fun together.

Taking care of your tubes

Don't hit the tubes against abrasive surfaces, as this could damage or deform them. Don't bend the tubes or use excessive force. The use of dedicated beaters such as the CM-PP064 will help to prolong the life of your set. The tubes can be kept clean with a soft, damp cloth and mild soap if necessary. Always store the tubes indoors and away from direct sunlight.

The range

The complete range of tubes spans a fully chromatic 2 octaves (from C3-C5), but it’s possible to extend this down a further octave (to C2) by adding Wak-a-Caps. Adding a Way-a-Cap takes the pitch of any tube down one octave.

There are a number of sets available which can be combined as required:

• CM-PP790 C Major diatonic scale set 8 notes C40 to C52, lengths from 12” to 24”
• CM-PP791 Chromatic set 5 sharps and flats within the octave C40 to C52, combine with PP790 for a fully chromatic octave
• CM-PP793 Bass diatonic set Extend your PP790 diatonic set down a further octave with this 7 note set from C28 to B39, lengths from 24” to 48”
• CM-PP794 Bass chromatic set 5 sharps and flats within the octave C28 to C40, combine with PP793, PP790 and PP791 for a fully chromatic 2 octave set
• CM-PP795 C Major pentatonic scale set 6 notes C40, D42, C44, G47, A,49 and C52, a sound introduction to simple music harmony as all notes in the pentatonic scale sound great when played together!
• Individual notes If you are playing in a specific key or tonality, you can customise your selection of Wak-a-Tubes to suit your musical requirements
• CM-PP796 Classroom pack The one-stop solution to fill your classroom with Waky music! Set includes two diatonic octave sets CM-PP790, one set of accidentals CM-PP791, one set of Wak-a-Caps, additional single notes as well as two jingle sticks and a lollipop drum

Accessories

• CM-PP792 Wak-a-Caps these clever little yellow end caps transpose the Wak-a-Tube down an octave upon fitting. Great to extend the range of your Wak-a-Tube collection even further and compatible with the full range
• CM-PP797 Wak-a-Rap This helpful carrying tote secures for travel, and can be used to lay out your set like a xylophone for playing with beaters
• CM-PP798 Wak-a-Tube stand Designed to hold up to 13 tubes, this stand can accommodate a full chromatic octave of CM-PP790 and CM-PP791 sets

The Percussion Plus Colour Coded Range

Teaching a full class of young musicians is rewarding, but when everyone is playing different instruments we know it can be a challenge. Fortunately Wak-a-Tubes have the same colour coding as Percussion Plus chime bars, hand chimes, handbells, combo bells and some glockenspiels, so it's easy to coordinate a group of mixed instruments just by calling out the colour. Using the colour code system anyone can play a tune by themselves o r in a group, without needing any knowledge of musical notation.

The tubes are colour-coded to match the following products:

• CM-PP935 chime bars
• CM-PP271 & CM-PP274 handbells
• CM-PP275 & CM-PP276 combi bells
• and CM-PP015 hand chimes among others