Sound through music: Exhibit‐based teaching at the Exploratorium Free

Acoustical topics taught at the Exploratorium include speech, hearing, language, psychoacoustics, and the physics of sound. We have found that each of these topics can be reached easily by beginning with a discussion of music. The evolution of the western scale, musical composition, and the design of musical instruments involve the concepts of a vibrating string and its harmonics, logarithmic hearing, acoustic resonance, and physical beats. The broadness of this approach leads naturally to discussions of the bases of aesthetics, the ability of the sciences to contribute to an appreciation of the arts, and the natural creative relationship between artists and scientists. The exhibits used in this exploration are all hands‐on, allowing for a variety of approaches to teaching. The students use the exhibits both on their own and with the guidance of an Exploratorium teacher. Independent use allows for self‐discovery, while the guide can provide direction toward less obvious observations. Classroom discussions typically follow the floor work.