Strike a Chord
Strike a Chord – The Science of Music is an interactive exhibition that celebrates the universal language of music.
Music, rhythm and dance are common to every culture on Earth. Music infuses our lives to soothe or excite our senses and to celebrate culture and important life events.
Hands-on exhibits
The exhibition consists of 20 hands-on exhibits, plus quirky fact graphic panels and a 'tot spot'.
Strike a Chord brings together a broad range of disciplines to explore the:
- physics of sound and musical instruments (acoustics),
- physiology of hearing and singing,
- psychology and sociology of music and
- musical composition.
Some of the exciting exhibits in Strike a Chord will have you conducting a virtual orchestra, recording and producing your own digital music, playing in an 'air band' with your friends and designing a musical instrument.
Education Materials
These resources are especially for teachers and parents planning a visit to Strike a Chord.
Research shows that students gain the most benefit from a museum visit by doing activities before or after their visit, rather than doing worksheets during their time in a gallery. Encouraging your students to discuss exhibit themes and how they link to the everyday world is a great way to enrich your students' experience while they are in the galleries.
Exhibit Summary RTF
Strike a Chord Exhibit Summary
PDF
State Curriculum Links Download all (Zip Archives) 1 MB
ACT Science 156 kB 48 kB NSW K – 6 Music 212 kB 72 kB NSW K – 6 Science 192 kB 56 kB NSW 7 – 10 Music 196 kB 100 kB NSW 7 – 10 Science 196 kB 56 kB Queensland 1 – 7 Music 176 kB 60 kB Queensland 1 – 7 Science 168 kB 48 kB Queensland 7 – 10 Music 168 kB 52 kB Queensland 7 – 10 Science 164 kB 48 kB SA Early and Primary Years Music 180 kB 64 kB SA Early and Primary Years Science 172 kB 56 kB SA Middle Years Arts 164 kB 48 kB SA Middle Years Science 160 kB 44 kB Victoria Level 1 – 4 Music 252 kB 72 kB Victoria Level 1 – 4 Science 208 kB 64 kB Victoria Level 4 – 5 Music 224 kB 72 kB Victoria Level 4 – 5 Science 196 kB 56 kB WA Level 1 – 4 Music 208 kB 76 kB WA Level 1 – 4 Science 196 kB 60 kB WA Level 4 - 5 Music 184 kB 52 kB WA Level 4 – 5 Science 180 kB 48 kB
Exhibit Background Notes Download All (Zip Archives) Compose a Classic 616 kB 96 kB Drum Dance 560 kB 80 kB Ear Relay 764 kB 104 kB Floor Piano 248 kB 76 kB Good Vibrations 7.4 MB 104 kB Hearing Ranges 760 kB 116 kB Invent an Instrument 776 kB 164 kB Light Harp 552 kB 72 kB Movie Moments 264 kB 72 kB Music Factory 248 kB 72 kB Musical World 320 kB 88 kB Pentaphone 252 kB 88 kB Pipe Play 980 kB 120 kB Pizzicato Piano 592 kB 160 kB Pizzicato PIano: Key Mechanism 5.5 MB 104 kB Seeing Sound 548 kB 68 kB Sound Sculpture 264 kB 100 kB Sounds Strange 256 kB 76 kB String Show 532 kB 128 kB Vocal Vowels 844 kB 88 kB Waves in a spring 628 kB 172 kB
Follow-up Activities Download All (Zip Archive) - Psychological Activities - 52 kB Physics Activities - 172 kB Physiology Activities - 84 kB
Quirky Facts Download All (Zip Archives) Can You Read the Music? 236 kB 108 kB Composers 240 kB 52 kB Feeling the Music 224 kB 64 kB In My Day 236 kB 48 kB Indian Classical Music 248 kB 52 kB Musical Instruments 236 kB 48 kB Pythagoras and Music 228 kB 48 kB Room Acoustics 232 kB 48 kB Standing Waves 732 kB 52 kB Throat Singing 232 kB 52 kB What Colour is the Music? 236 kB 48 kB
Note that you may need to download PDF reader software to view or print them.
Exhibition hire
Want to hire Strike a Chord for your science centre or museum?
Find out more at the Travelling Exhibitions home page.