Guitar or Diddley Bow?

In the second unit of the course Light, Sound and Time, we studied the speed of sound, echoes, the Doppler effect, Mach, rates, decibels, parts of the ear and how we receive sound. We also learned about harmonics, infrasound, audible hearing, ultrasound, sonar, how fast sound travels through materials, and how a guitar’s frequencies change through the strings. For our action project, we made a Diddley Bow. A Diddley Bow is a one string instrument made of a piece of wood, four screws, a battery and a tin can. During this action project I had difficulty getting tension on the string because my original idea was making a long Diddley Bow, but since I couldn’t get the tension needed, I made it shorter to get the right sound. From this project I learned that screwing a screw on a thick piece of wood with a screwdriver is hard and that to make a good sound for an instrument you need to be accurate with string tension and the type of string. I am proud of my Diddley Bow because it was difficult to build and to sound how I wanted it to sound and at the end I got it how I wanted it.

KIS. Diddley Bow. 2016.

The way my Diddley Bow produces sound using one string is that when I play it, it vibrates through the tin can which amplifies the sound. When it is played with a slide on the string it changes sound as it moves. For example, when it moves down towards the tin can the sound becomes higher because the strings vibration gets shorter and when moving the opposite way it sounds deeper and the string vibration gets longer. Depending on the thickness of the string it will most likely decide what type of sound will come out. For example on a thin string, the sound will be high pitch like a violin and on a thick string the sound will be low like a bass guitar. My instrument demonstrates pitch/frequency by the type of string. I chose a thick, short, tight wire string. Another thing that really helps with the sound is the size of the tin can because it changes how loud and clear your sound is. My Diddley Bow demonstrates sound waves because when I play the string, depending on how soft or loud I pluck the string it will determine the amplitude of the sound wave.

KIS. Sketch of Diddley Bow. 2016.

The Doppler Effect is when a frequency changes as it moves towards or away from the observer. The frequency get higher when it gets closer to the observer and the wavelength get shorter. The wavelength get longer and the frequency get lower when it moves away from the observer. My Diddley Bow can demonstrate this if I walk and play my instrument as I move towards someone who is standing still. As I move closer to the person the frequency is higher and as I move away from the person the frequency is lower.

The length of the string from the tin hole to the screw is 13 ½ inches, the diameter of the tincan is 4 inches and the radius is 2 inches. The height of the tin can is 5 ½ inches, the thickness of the string is 0.046 inches and the volume of the body is 69.11 inches. The way I got that is by using the equation “pi x r^2 x height.” The note of my string is F2, the frequency of that note is 87.31Hz and the wavelength is 395.16cm. The way I got the frequency and wavelength for my harmonics is by multiplying the 1st harmonic by 2 and dividing the wavelength by 2 and as I go on I just multiply and divide by the next number. The 1st harmonic is 87.31Hz (F) & 395.16cm (W), the 2nd harmonic is 174.62Hz (F) & 197.58cm (W), the 3rd harmonic is 261.93Hz (F) & 131.72cm (W) , and the 4th harmonic is 349.24Hz (F) & 98.79cm (W).

KIS. Harmonics. 2016.

If I could do this project again I would choose a different string, maybe a thinner one because it was very difficult to get the right tension for a thick string so it might be easier for a thinner string. Also the pitch of my Diddley Bow would be much higher than it is and I would like that. Also I would use nails instead of screws because the nails would be more easier to get through the wood and I would have finished my project sooner.

KIS. Diddley Bow. 2016.

 

Acapella

In the first unit of the course Argument, we studied the Declaration of Independence, we broke it down to understand, we made mini arguments and we discuss what happens in the republican and democratic debates. We also looked at photographs with no people for the reason that the space has a historical moment, whereas there was a protest, gun shot, etc. For our action project we were assigned to make a declaration of our choosing. I decided to make a declaration about having an Acapella third period class because I like acapella and I like many acapella groups. During this action project I had difficulty coming up with an idea to pursue and structuring the declaration to make it flow. I learned that making a third period is harder than I thought because there are many details that go into it and making the structure of the third period is crucial so there is guidance.

We should have an Acapella third period class because it will let students explore their tones of voices and what their voice can do. They will discover new ways of singing, their true voices and will learn how to harmonize with other groups. Working together is the key to a successful acapella group.
The purpose of school is to learn new things and to expand our knowledge of previous things. To explore new things and find out what you are good and what might possibly be you career. In our new space at GCE Lab School, there will be a recording studio and we will have the chance to experience how to record. School also helps us grow, find our voice and help us be independent. Some of the rights that we have is the Right to explore different things, Right to express your ideas, Right to experience something new, Right to network with professionals and many more.

The guiding question I will pursue Is Acapella part of Music or separate? Why? I think that student should have a chance to explore something new. We have a club after school, but I think that many students are shy to participate so having them take a class will push them to discover something about himself and something different than doing kareoke because in Acapella everything is done by one's voice. My desire outcome of this third period is for students to feel that they learned something new about themself, make new friends, find something in common with other people they didn’t think they had and over all they appreciate acapella and music.In order to make this possible I will need a teacher who is passionate about music and that will help students find a voice. I will need students who are interested in it or are willing to give it a chance. I will need people who think or can beatbox. People who have some kind of knowledge in music to help out others and help with arrangements. I will need some speakers to play some examples of song from acapella groups. Maybe we can do a partnership with an acapella teacher, and acapella academy or a local/ any acapella group.

KIS. Triple Diagram. 2016.

We should have an acapella third period class that allows students to explore different sides of music and different genres. Having this class will will give them a different point of view of music and they will see music differently in general.