Guidonian Hand Pin DIY

DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

Do you know about Guido of Arezzo? Not a lot is really known about him, but he is credited with contributing to modern music notation, as well as a sight singing aid called the Guidonian Hand (which, as you can see in the first link, wasn’t necessarily from Guido). It’s really quite interesting. Since learning about dear Guido in Music History I (or maybe even Music Survey?), it seems that decorations and accessories of hands look cool and remind me of the Guidonian Hand (I know, I’, a weirdo).

Anyway, keep reading below to see how to make your own Guidonian Hand pin!

DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

SUPPLIES:
oven bake clay (I used Sculpey)
Guidonian Hand Printout printed on paper
Guidonian Hand Printout printed on ​transparency
pin back
glue (I used Weldbond)
glaze
skewer (optional)
Also….oven & printer
DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

Print 2 copies of your template: one on scrap paper & one on your transparency.
Take off a piece of clay, using the draft as a guide for how much.
DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

Split the ball of clay in 2. One will be for the palm of the hand and the other for the fingers.
DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

Roll the “palm” part into a ball, & separate the “finger” part into 5 balls.
DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

Roll each “finger” ball into a cylinder shape. Adjust as needed to make the different fingers.
DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

Attach the fingers to the palm on top of the hand on the printout (to use as a reference). Adjust as necessary. Smooth out the joins.
DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

Press the pin back into the back of the hand shape (the side facing up).
DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

Remove the pin back.
DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

Carefully lay the transparency on the clay hand. Make sure the ink side is face down (toward the clay).
DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

Press the transparency down. Lift up, being careful to not smudge the ink as much as possible.

​Bake according to directions.

DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

Allow the clay to cool. Glue the pin back on, matching it up with the indent you made in the clay earlier.
DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

After the glue has dried, glaze the front of your pin. Looking back, I might glaze it first, then attach the pin back.

Also, I recommend using a brush that if it gets ruined, it’s ok…especially if you let the glaze harden on it. (oops.)

DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

Once it’s all dry, it’s ready to wear! It’s a bit smudgy, but it still represents that old music device that is the Guidonian Hand. 🙂
Are you familiar with Guido of Arezzo? Do you know how to use the Guidonian Hand? If you do, pretty please let me know on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below (& we can geek out over it together…haha!)! If not, I’d still love to see your version of this craft project!

-Barbara

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Barbara Fischer runs Fischarper, LLC and loves her job as a harpist and private music educator. She enjoys blogging about various aspects of the music field on fischarper.com/blog. For more music resources, check out the Fischarper store. You can connect with Barbara all over the interwebs on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube. And you can sign up to receive Fischarper updates by joining the email list.
DIY Guidonian Hand Pin // Fischarper

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From the archives…Leather Harp Pin DIY
Leather Harp Pin DIY // Fischarper

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