Engaging Summer Activities: Music Lessons and Fun Sound Projects to Try at Home
- seizethenightrecor
- Jun 2
- 5 min read
Beat the Heat with Music Lessons!
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Private music lessons at Seize the Night Records teach you more than just how to play an instrument - you will learn how to write, record, and play your own original music. You’ll also learn the fundamentals of business, graphic design, and creating merchandise. Our lessons use Logotherapy to help develop personal meaning and purpose through the creation of music, media, and art.
Learn how to turn anxiety into creativity at Seize the Night Records.
Try a Sound Experiment at Home
Dancing Sugar
Supplies:
Large Bowl
Plastic Cling Wrap
Sugar
Other Supplies to test (rice, beans, anything!)
Directions:
Cover the top of the bowl with cling wrap and secure in place.
Place the sugar on top of the cling wrap.
Hum, talk, sing, yell, or make any noise near the bowl and watch the sugar dance! Does the sugar move more if you make a louder noise?
Try with more items like rice, beans, or anything else you have on hand. If your voice doesn’t make it move, does it move when you drum on the side of the bowl?
How it works: This experiment makes it so you can see how sound travels. When a noise is made, it creates sound waves. You can’t see the sound waves, but they travel through the air and to our ears so we hear the sound.
Inspiration: https://insidetheorchestra.org/outside-the-orchestra/dancing-sugar-steam-for-pre-k-and-kindergarten/
Silent Gong
Supplies:
Ruler - wooden or heavy plastic works best
Spoons - two sizes to test
String or yarn - about 4 feet
Directions: This experiment shows how sound travels. When a noise is made, it creates sound waves. You can’t see the sound waves, but they travel through the air and to our ears so we hear the sound.
Create a loop in the middle of the string and insert the handle of the spoon into the loop. Pull tight so that the spoon hangs in the center of the string and you have two long pieces that are about equal in length.
Take each string and wrap them around your pointer finger on each hand.
Then, hold the string against each ear. Not into your ear, just outside like you are going to plug your ear.
The spoon should hang just below the waist when the yarn is placed near the ears. You can move your fingers up or down the string to achieve this height. You can also move the height up and down later on to see if it changes the sound you hear.
Once the string is pushed against the ears, have someone GENTLY hit the ruler against the round part of the spoon.
How it works: When the ruler hits the spoon, it creates vibrations which makes sound waves. The sound waves travel up the string and to you ear, instead of spreading out into the air around you. Depending on the size of the spoon and length of the yarn, the sound will be higher or lower. Because the string allows the sound waves to continue to travel, the sound will reverberate and continue for a while after you’ve hit the spoon. The only one who can hear the gong sound is the person with the string by their ears. Everyone else will just hear a faint “plink” sound when the ruler hits the spoon.
Inspiration: https://www.kcedventures.com/the-science-of-sound-waves-an-awesome-experiment-for-kids/
Water Whistle
Supplies:
Straws
Scissors
Cup of water
Paper (optional)
Tape (optional)
Directions:
Start by partially cutting through the straw about two inches from the top. You need to make sure there is a small piece of straw left uncut to keep the two sections together.
Bend the straw where you cut it to be a 90 degree angle.
If you’d like to make it sturdier, cut a strip of paper and fold it into a triangle. Then, tape the paper triangle to the straw to keep the straw at a 90 degree angle.
Place the long side of the straw into the cup of water.
Blow into the straw softly.
When you get it to make a constant sound, try lifting the straw in and out of the water.
How it works: The air inside the straw is vibrating. The submerged part of the straw is filled with water and air. When you blow into the straw, this causes the air inside the straw to vibrate and create the whistling sound. The pitch of the sound depends on how much air is inside the straw.
Make a Musical Instrument at Home
Popsicle Stick Harmonica
Supplies:
2 popsicle sticks - jumbo sticks work best
2 rubber bands
Strip of paper the same size as popsicle stick
2 cut straws (you can also use toothpicks)
Directions:
Place one popsicle stick on the bottom of the harmonica.
Place one straw on the right side of the bottom popsicle stick, about 1 inch from the edge.
Place the paper on top of the popsicle stick and first straw.
Place the second straw on top of the paper, on the left side of the popsiclestick, about 1 inch from the edge.
Place the top popsicle stick on.
Use the rubber bands to hold it all together, one on each end, outside of the straws.
Blow into your harmonica to make a noise! Try carefully moving the straws closer to the middle to see if the sound changes.
Inspiration:https://www.thecrafttrain.com/mini-lid-banjos/
Mini Lid Banjo
Supplies:
Jumbo Craft Stick
Lid from a jar (sauce jar, pickle jar, etc. works great)
4 Rubber bands
Duct Tape
Markers, washi tape, sequins, etc to decorate
Directions:
Place the four rubber bands over the lid and secure in place with a piece of duct tape on the back.
Attach the craft stick to the back of the lid using duct tape.
Decorate your craft stick with washi tape, sequins, markers, however you want!
Play your mini banjo!
Water Xylophone
Supplies:
Empty jars or cups, all the same size
Food coloring (optional)
Water
Measuring cup
Stick (or something to use as xylophone striker)
Directions:
Measure out varying amounts of water into each jar.
Add food coloring so each jar is a different color if you want! Fun, but not necessary for the sound experiment.
Gently use the stick to play your “xylophone!” each jar makes a different sound because the amount of water is different.
DIY Wind Chimes
Supplies:
Stick
Craft wire or Fishing line
Metal washers
Paint to decorate
Directions:
Decorate your washers.
Attach craft wire or fishing line to your washers at different lengths.
Attach the other end of craft wire or fishing line to the stick. Place them at lengths so that the washers hit each other.
Enjoy your wind chimes!
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