BMI Processing Center
The Bamboo Musical Instruments Processing Center (BMIPC) houses a line of processing equipment for BMI manufacturing purposes or for businesses that wish to adopt the Institute’s technologies for improving the processing, durability, aesthetics and sound quality of select BMIs. The BMIPC also features a mini museum showcasing instruments developed in the Center and other BMIs made by several commercial makers and indigenous groups in the country. It will serve as a venue for training teachers, students, hobbyists or interested adopters on making and tuning of BMIs.
BMI Prototypes
Thru the BMI PC, the DOST FPRDI has fabricated several bamboo musical instrument prototypes that include angklung, marimba and kawagong.
Marimba
Kawagong
Angklung
These instruments were crafted using select processing equipment at the Center. To ensure the BMIs’ durability without compromising its tonal quality, the DOST-FPRDI carefully studied and applied drying, finishing & preservation techniques.
BMI Processing Facility
Want to know more?
Science in a creative industry.
The DOST-FPRDI has a Bamboo Musical Instruments Innovation R&D program aimed at improving the quality of locally-made bamboo musical instruments (BMIs) through science and innovative technologies. The program seeks to standardize the production of selected BMIs, develop prototype designs, analyze raw material sources and existing markets, and build a BMI processing facility. In addition, the program aims to document the ethnocultural story behind several BMIs and identify the bamboo species used in BMI production to promote public awareness and appreciation of the cultural importance of these musical instruments. The program is a collaboration with the University of the Philippines and Philippine Normal University for teaching modules and analyzing sound quality and standardization of BMI design. The DOST Grants-in-Aid program provides funding.
PhBMI