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Article for: The Davis Enterprise
Date: January 27, 2006
Author: Mackenzie T. Yamamura

VISIT EXPLORIT SATURDAY FOR SOME GOOD VIBRATIONS

The Sacramento Youth Symphony will perform tomorrow at Explorit to explore the physics of sound and music. The SYS Junior Orchestra, an introductory symphonic orchestra of young musicians up to 15 years old, will present demonstrations at 1p.m. and 2p.m.

The musicians will show science concepts such as sound and pitch through percussion, wind and string instruments. They will demonstrate the relationship between vibrations and sound by calling on volunteers to test various strings, rubber bands and instruments.

Additionally, they will test amplification and pitch by using everyday objects such as plastic bowls and drinking glasses and relating them back to specific musical instruments. The orchestra also will play selected pieces of music to demonstrate all the components in symphony.

If you find yourself humming along with the music on Saturday, try putting your hand to your throat. What would you feel? You probably would feel tingling or even some vibrations. Vibrations are the key to the production of music - or any sound for that matter, whether in tune or out of tune.

Sound waves are the results of vibrations of molecules in the air. Air molecules vibrating slowly cause long waves, with low frequencies of peaks in the waves. These waves create low-pitched sounds. High-pitched sounds result from vibrations of very high frequency making waves that are shorter and closer together. So a small piccolo generally makes high notes and a large bass bassoon makes low ones.

The loudness of sound is a result of how high a wave, or its 'amplitude,' is. A drum is an instrument with a built-in amplifier. Striking the head of the drum causes the air to bounce back and forth inside the drum body, amplifying the sound wave.

The purity of sound depends on how many different wavelengths are occurring simultaneously. This concept is used in tuning musical instruments, like a piano. By adjusting the tension of the wire, the frequency can be changed slightly until it is exactly at some set pitch.

Apart from the physics, music also contains an emotional quality. Tone, a sound of a distinct pitch and quality, may be the biggest expressive factor, but loudness and pitch factor in as well.

As you listen to the orchestra on Saturday, think of all the pieces involved in playing music and how each aspect affects your responses - both physical (that tingling in your throat) and emotional (that feeling of joy upon hearing a symphony of notes).

The Sacramento Youth Symphony was founded in 1956, associated with the Sacramento Symphony. Fifty years later it is still operating, but since 1991 it has been as an independent non-profit and has grown to include three orchestras at varying skill levels. Explorit will be hosting the beginning-level group, the Junior Orchestra, which is under the direction of Maryll Goldsmith.

This event, sponsored by Davis Waste Removal, is free and open to the public.

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Explorit Science Center is at 3141 Fifth St. in East Davis. The current exhibition "Catch a Wave: The Science of Light and Sound" runs through March 12. Public hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.explorit.org or call Explorit at (530) 756-0191.