What Does Sound Look Like?

Sound is all around us, but it can be tough to understand because it's totally invisible at first glance. Make a musical instrument and a special tool to discover what sound looks like.

Using everyday ingredients and tools from your kitchen cabinet, embark on a hands-on process that prompts you to ask questions, mix compounds, and analyze materials like a scientist at the Museum.

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Materials- Balloon with the bottom cut off- Rubber band- Tape - Plastic wrap- Salt- Bowl- Tin can- Decorating materials

Instructions- Cover a tin can with a balloon and secure it with a rubber band.- Decorate the sides of your drum with whatever materials you’d like.- Grab a bowl and cover the top with plastic wrap. Pull it tight and secure it with tape.- Shake a little bit of salt on top of the bowl.- Play your drum next to the bowl to see the grains of salt on top of the bowl dance!- Take this experiment further by testing what happens when you play the drum harder or softer or what happens when you make noise with a different instrument. Recording your findings in a notebook.

Chief Digital Officer: Douglas HegleyExecutive Producer: Sarah WamboldDirector/Writer/Producer: Emma VecchioneProducer: Rachel SmithProject Manager: Maria KozaneckaAnimation Direction: Lisa LaBracioStop Motion Animation: Lisa LaBracio2D Animation: Luca MancusoProp Fabrication: Lisa V. Bergmann, Anna SamoNarrator: Roselin LopezEpisode Consultants: Michael Millican, Marco LeonaEducation Consultants: Darcy-Tell Morales, Merantine HensOriginal Music: Austin FisherSound Mix: Dave RaymondProduction Design: Aurola Wedman AlfaroRights and Permissions: Julie Zeftel

Dadabuan, 19th century. Philippine (Mindanao). Philippines.Wood, mother-of-pearl, skin, Height: 32 3/8 in. (82.2 cm), Diameter (Maximum): 24 7/16 in. (62 cm), Diameter (Drum head): 21 3/4 in. (55.3 cm).Rogers Fund, 1982 (1982.32)

Side Drum, 18th century.Dutch, Netherlands.Wood, skin, cord, Height: 16 1/4 in (41.3 cm), Diameter: 15 5/16 in (38.9cm),The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889 (89.4.840)

Darabukka, late 19th century.Middle East. Syria.Clay, skin, wood, Height: 14 in (10.2 cm), Diameter of head 10 in (25.4 cm),The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889 (89.4.333)

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