DIY Instrument Project

First of all, I am so proud of these 7th and 8th graders!

A few weeks ago, we started a project in our music class. We began with a lesson on the science of sound. We talked about how sound starts with a vibration from a source and travels through the air as a sound wave. it arrives to our ears and our brains interpret that as sound. We learned the higher the frequency, the higher the pitch and the lower the frequency, the lower the pitch. Then to further the learning and understanding, they were tasked with designing their own instruments out of household items. They could create a rubber band guitar, a straw flute, a bottle drum, or their own original instrument. We were lucky because students created some of each type. After they constructed their instruments, they experimented with sound. They learned how to change the pitch of the instruments and created the sound they wanted. Then, they worked together to create a presentation to introduce their instrument and what they learned about sound. We had so much fun playing the instruments at the end of each presentation! We have some very creative kiddos!

Group 1: Tropiphone (Original Design)

Group 2: The Minute Flute (Straw Flute)

Group 3: The Uke (Rubber Band Guitar)

Group 4: Lyre (Rubber Band Instrument)

Group 5: Andrew F. Drum (Bottle Drum)