How to Make Your Own Choir Risers

Magnify the sound of a singing group by directing them on a set of risers. Choir risers not only allow the faces of the singers to be seen, but also allow the sound to travel straight at the audience. Risers like these consist of three platforms of different height. The first riser is generally for singers in the alto range, the second riser which is higher is often for the singers of the tenor range and the highest riser in the back is for the bass the singers. Suit the needs of any small choir by building a sturdy set of risers using construction lumber and wood tools.

Lay two 80-inch boards on edge, parallel and 21 inches apart. Set five 21-inch boards between them at right angles and space them 14 1/2 inches apart. The sides of the two outside 21-inch boards are flush with the ends of the 80-inch boards. Screw the 80-inch boards to the ends of the 21-inch boards. Use three screws for each end of the 21-inch boards. This is a frame for one riser tier. Repeat this step two more times to build the frames for two more tiers.

Set two 80-inch boards on edge, parallel and 21 inches apart. Set two 21-inch boards between them and space them 77 inches apart. Screw through the 80-inch boards and into the 21-inch boards. Use 12 screws for this task. This is a support frame for the bottom for one of the tiers. Repeat this step two more times to build the rest of the supports.

Position two supports on top of each other so the sides are flush and set one of the tier frames on top of the two support frames. Set a 16 1/2-inch board inside each corner of the frames and screw four screws through each corner on each frame and into the 16 1/2-inch boards. This is the back riser frame.

Lay one support frame flat and set a tier frame on top of it so the sides are flush. This is your middle riser. Position an 11-inch board inside the corners of these frames and screw four screws through each corner of each frame to secure these boards.

Position the middle riser against the back riser so the 24-inch sides are flush. Screw through the 80-inch boards on the middle riser and into the back riser. Use 12 screws for this task. Position the last riser tier frame against the middle riser so the 24-inch sides are flush and screw through the 80-inch board and into the middle riser using six screws.

Set a sheet of plywood on top of each tier frame so the edges are flush. Screw each sheet of plywood to the frames using sixteen screws for each sheet of plywood.