Rock On!

This week's Invention Squad challenge was to use found materials to make musical instruments. We asked the kids to make a string instrument (with at least four different notes) or a percussion instrument that can generate four different sounds. Then join a band -or fly solo- and make some noise (aka music)!

Some of the kids made percussion decks with hanging gongs, foil cymbals and fork xylophones. 

Others experimented with changing pitch by altering tension, gauge and length of strings. Some designs posed questions about acoustics: how does dampening affect the quality or timbre of the note? What role does a sound chamber have for the volume of my sound? How on earth can I get any note from this crazy thing I just made? 

As the class ended (never mind the near-deafened instructors), the kids gave an enthusiastic performance on their instruments. The eclectic selection included a rousing Jingle Bells, a body-slamming, foot stomping, clave-playing solo from Zachary, Roar-the small girl cover and a stylish percussion improv from the boys.