Sound

Construct a music machine. Hear the logic of Leonardo's mind at work as he invents the first modern robot, an automatic drummer whose rhythms can be reprogrammed flexibly and whose tempos adjust automatically. Invent your own cadences and rhythms.

Construct a two-string instrument and a bow. Devise experiments to modify pitch, tone, and volume. Consider the variables of materials, tension, touch, and your own dexterity. Use the violin to describe patterns of waves in terms of amplitude and wavelength, and that waves can cause objects to move. View the sound waves on an Oscilloscope to see their amplitude and length. Experiment with water and tuning to "see" the sound.

Inspired by a Vietnamese folk toy and a book by Yvonne Winer and Tony Oliver, Frog Sings Songs, we celebrate the joy of frog sounds and colors in the hope that they will live on, undisturbed in their natural habitats. Students will learn about a variety of frogs, their unique sounds, colors, sizes, and movements. This is a musical program—follow the instructor's lead and create the rhythmic sounds of frogs in nature. Notice the difference when played in the air and on a solid surface. This program offers a wonderful way to teach our youngest learners about the speed of sound without them even realizing it!