ANTSR (aka the instrument project)

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...

 

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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)

 

Attachment	Size
ANTSR_Guidelines.pdf	208.97 KB
ANTSR_parent_permission.pdf	58.4 KB
ANTSR application.pdf	879.93 KB
ANTSR Overall Rubric.pdf	52.98 KB
ANTSR_Musical_Instrument_stations_lab.pdf	74.74 KB
ANTSR_ Contract.pdf	90.74 KB
ANTSR Instrument Info (student).pdf	928.85 KB
Interfence (superposition) activity worksheet.pdf	114.48 KB
A Very Sound Worksheet.pdf	218.34 KB
This Sounds Like a Problem to Me.pdf	44.78 KB
This Sounds Like a Problem to Me-KEY.pdf	39.01 KB
Waves and Sound Expectations.pdf	46.18 KB
Waves and Sound Expectations-key.pdf	56.22 KB
Slinky wave lab.pdf	66.13 KB