Sound Decisions

Campers in Matt Nelson’s Sound Decisions class were working on their percussion designs on Tuesday. At the front of the room was an open case of bells students were playing to get the proper pitch and the display slide was offering simple guidelines to follow for their projects: look at the materials available, create a goal, and create a sketch. By the end of class, many of the students not only had their designs, but sample instruments to play music.  

Michael said he was designing a xylophone with PVC pipe. He had the teacher cut the pipe into ten different stairstep pieces and was clearly invested in the testing process as he tried different materials to see how they responded or sounded as he hit the tops of the pipes.

Nelson generated conversation and more ideas by asking, “How are you going to take it down in pitch?” and “Will you have to experiment?”

Beau was proudly beating on his drum, made from a cylinder-shaped container and thick plastic wrap as a covering.

First up was percussion, next is flutes, and Thursday string instruments are on the schedule. Campers were having fun learning about the construction of instruments and the science of sound.