America's Next Top Science Rockers!!

A Project-Based Learning Opportunity which focuses on the practical (and pleasing) application of the physics of sound and waves -
to design, build, and play musical instruments

ANTSR Wiki

The place where each class has a space to record what they are learning, what they are building, and useful or cool things they have found on the internet

 Click "Read more" for details...

Students must build and play an instrument which:

1- Reliably plays a full major scale - at least 8 notes. Though with a little extra work you could include the minor notes (flats/sharps) and make a 12 note scale.
2- Is sturdy and transportable (should be mounted nicely so that you can basically just start playing it anywhere without tons of setup)
3- Is playable by anyone (meaning no special musical skills are required to make the notes, i.e. anything with a neck should have frets, or at least markings so anyone can put their finger in the right spot to make an in-tune note).

Report Guidelines

Refer to ANTSR guidelines handout for details

Assignment Handouts

All handouts are posted at the bottom of this page.

General Timeline
 

Week 1 (3/18-3/27)

• - introduction
• - fill out talent application
• - meet your band mates
• - start initial research
• - learn basic wave and sound concepts

Week 2 (3/30-4/3)

• -DEADLINE: have a design drawing with materials list by thursday of this week.
• -learn more advanced concepts in sound and waves necessary for instrument construction
• -Decide on instrument you want to build
• -Some general guidelines in terms of difficulty :
  • --If you want to try something fairly straightforward with minimal design challenges, try a pan pipe made of pvc or a stringed  instrument with a single string.
  • --If you want to try something a bit more challenging, a multi-stringed instrument, flute, or percussive resonating tubes might be a good choice.
  • --A mallet percussion instruments (marimba, xylophone, thumb piano, etc)  has some wierd math involved and are hard to tune, but easier to play.
  • --If you want something that will really challenge you, the sky is the limit, some things that might seem easy, are really not so easy (for instance, a flute is deceptively hard to get in tune).
• -choose a song with your band, figure out if you need sharps and flats to play it.
• -design and begin construction of the instrument
• -Spring Break HW: Gather needed materials, we will have a work day in class when we return, so BE READY!
   

Spring break (3/24-3/30)

• - gather materials necessary to build your instrument
  • Some materials, which are hard to transport without a truck will be available for purchase in class when you return
    • PVC pipe - 2$ for 10 feet
    • steel pipe - $2 for 10 feet
    • some scrap wood - free
    • some screws and nails - free
  • Other good sources of materials
    • your (or a friend's) garage is a good place to start. you might be surprised at what you can find lurking in the corners
    • Hibbert lumber (5th and G) gives away scrap lumber, just let them know you are working on a project for your HS physics class and would like to look through their scrap bin. They also have good prices on lumber, pipe, metal, and other misc. hardware.
    • ACE (3rd and G) has every screw, nail, wire, cork, rubber stopper, hose, pipe, metal bar, and any other doo-dad you could ever hope for. They are very helpful with finding what you need.
    • Watermelon Music (2nd and E) has tuners, strings, and many other intrument-specific details that you might need.
  • - Start working on your instrument (if it is something that will require time spent at home to finish).

Week 3 (4/13-4/17)

• Deadline: - Have you calculations done by monday of this week so that you can start building your instrument on tuesday.
• -Work days on Tues and Wed/Thurs of this week, so BRING YOUR MATERIALS (I will be checking)
  
• -continue learning about instruments and advanced concepts in sound and waves
• -Construct instrument
• -tune instrument
• -practice song with band
• -start writing your report

Week 4 (4/20-4/24)

• -DEADLINE: Instrument construction must be finished by tuesday of this week.
• -continue practicing song
• -finish learning sound/wave concepts
• -finish writing your report 
• -get your instrument graded

Week 5 (4/27-5/1)

• -DEADLINE: Perform for the panel of judges (WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY)
• Extra Credit: to anyone interested in performing at Open House (Wednesday night)! This can be in a group outside your band (i.e. if you want to get together with anyone from any of my classes and learn a song to perform at Open House)