Project Music to Your Ears

PROJECT – MUSIC TO YOUR EARS INTRODUCTION: Due April 1st , 2015

Turn in this sheet with project-rubric on back Humans have been inventing musical instruments of all kinds since the beginning of time. The purpose of this project is to design, build, test, and modify your own homemade musical instrument. At the end of the project, you will demonstrate your instrument in a class presentation and explain characteristics of waves and how they transfer sound in your instrument and turn in a log which describes and illustrates your work on the instrument.

PROJECT RULES:  You must design and construct a unique homemade instrument.(no kits, no rubber band box or can guitars, and no water jar pianos)  You must be able to demonstrate how to change the loudness and pitch of the sound produced by your instrument and to explain how loudness and pitch are related to wavelength and frequency. (Your instrument must exhibit at least 3 different pitches and demonstrate differences in loudness.)  Your instrument must be made of safe materials. Cover any sharp edges with tape.  You may not use electricity in your instrument in any way. Loud sounds can damage hearing. Do not play your instrument too near other students’ ears.  You must keep a log of the design, construction, testing, and modifications of your instrument. Be specific, explain exactly how the sounds are made on your instrument and why the sounds are different (use wavelength, amplitude, frequency, pitch, etc).  You must demonstrate and play a simple tune on your instrument in a class presentation and explain how sounds are made and why they are different.

SUGGESTED MATERIALS: Cardboard boxes, different lengths of cardboard tubes, PVC pipe, rubber bands, string of different widths, wooden craft sticks, tongue depressors, etc. When in doubt, ask your teacher .

PROJECT HINTS:  Be creative! Don’t just copy an existing instrument or an instrument that another student has created. Part of the assessment of your project is based on originality.  As you decide on the design of your instrument, remember that you will need to play something on it. Your instrument must not only make sounds, but it must make different sounds so that you can play a tune. Practice your tune ahead of time!!!

LOG ENTRIES: Write words in blue or black ink only-pencil sketches must be dark.  Log is an original document in students’ handwriting (not typed) It must be bound. (OL use page format provided.)  List starting date, and include dates and times with all entries.  Document resources used and tell a little about the instrument you are creating or a similar instrument and how it works.(If you get ideas from a website, document the site.)  Materials list-list all materials you will need.  SKETCH (dark pencil)-Preliminary instrument design/drawing completed  List date construction of instrument is completed  List testing observations-what do you see and hear? How do the materials create sound?  List any changes you made to instrument and tell why you made those changes. In your presentation: Be specific, explain exactly how the sound waves travel in your instrument and what causes the sounds to be different (pitch & loudness). Use science words from the chapter such as wavelength, amplitude, frequency, pitch, etc. Demonstrate these sounds in a simple tune NAME ______PERIOD ______DATE______RUBRIC – MUSIC TO YOUR EARS

25 20 15 10 0 Creativity of Design is very Design is somewhat Design is not Design is not Design (10) Design is like no unique and made of creative. Student creative. Student evident or other. Very creative unique materials. follows all project did not follow all object is made TOTAL: ___ and unseen before by Student follows all rules. Instrument is rules. with no real instructor. Student project rules. well made. Construction is effort. Listening follows all project Instrument is well poor. (10) rules. Instrument is made. well made. Log Planning is thorough Planning is good. A Planning is Minimal planning No log . and source fair amount of adequate. with brief notes, TOTAL: ___ documented. sketches, notes, Somewhat useful sketches and Sketches, notes, materials, dates, & notes, materials, materials. materials, dates, & observations are observations & observations are listed. dates listed. Does not explain listed. Explains how Explanations are Barely explains how how sounds are sounds are created not thorough. sounds are created. made. with the materials used. Class Thorough and well Presentation is Presentation is Presentation is brief No presentation Presentation organized. Process is good. adequate. Student & hard to follow. or song. explained for design, Most of the design, explains some of the Student omits major construction, testing construction, testing design, testing, & parts of project. TOTAL: ___ & changes. Simple & changes modification. Student tune played & explained. Student Student plays a demonstrates a few demonstrates all plays a simple tune simple tune. characteristics, but characteristics of & demonstrates does not play a tune. the instrument. some characteristics of the instrument. Scientific Uses scientific Uses some scientific Uses little scientific Uses no scientific No vocabulary. Knowledge of vocabulary such as vocabulary. vocabulary. vocabulary. waves pitch, loudness, TOTAL: ___ waves, sound, medium, wavelength, frequency, etc…

Teacher comments: ______

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TOTAL POINTS______

OL Music to Your Ears LOG: Complete the following Log Sheet. Name ______You must have at least 3 different entries. Make sure all writing is done in pen. Explain what work you did on that date, whether it be research , construction, modifications, or practicing your tune. Remember, you must document any websites you use for ideas, construction plans, or information.

Date Started work on the instrument ______

Date: ______

Date ______

Date______Illustration of Instrument : Label parts and write a brief description of the instrument. You must explain how the instrument was made and how you achieve the different pitches and loudness of your sounds. Describe any changes or modifications you made along the way. (This is the information you will present to the class when you demonstrate your instrument.)

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