Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Coffee Can Cuica
In this activity students will use the engineering design process to make a musical instrument called a cuica. This musical instrument uses "stick-and-slip" vibrations to make the sound.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Head Harp
Want to make music with your head? In this experiment, create a musical instrument by wrapping a string around your head.
Other
Blokfluitkids
Colorful, interactive Dutch language website that introduces students to recorders and wooden flutes. It shows how the flutes are made and the different sounds they make. Site also activities that let students play along (practice...
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Activities: Sound Like a Turkey
An activity where students investigate the sounds created by the friction of fingers moving along a wet string.
Handbell World
Handbell World: Handbell Notation Symbols and Definitions
Handbell ringing is a unique form of music-making and uses techniques that don't apply to other instruments. Music written for handbells looks much like piano music, with the addition of symbols which indicate these unique techniques....
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Percussion Instruments and Pitch
Learners will enjoy learning about pitch as they construct their own percussion instruments. They will predict and explore how pitches can change based on the materials used and how the instruments are made.
Hunkins Experiments
Hunkin's Experiments: Sound Experiments
Hunkin's Experiments is a group of simple cartoon illustrations of scientific principles. Some would work well in the classroom, but others have little value beyond entertaining students. All of the projects are easy to do. This group of...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Gears Go Round!
Music boxes, bicycles, and clocks all have one thing in common: GEARS. You might say that gears make the world turn, since they are in so many mechanical instruments. How do they work and how do you know which gears to use? Find out in...