Music High and Low

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Videos:
Watch and Listen

Move Your Body:
Toddler & Early Elementary

STEAM:
Preschool & Elementary

STEAM:
Elementary & Middle

Playlist:
Highs & Lows

Watch and Listen

Woodwind musician Kathryn Simpson shows off some of the high and low note sounds in the woodwind section using her Piccolo and English Horn. Watch a silly straw trick to see how the length of a tube changes the pitch of sound, listen to a beautiful English Horn melody, and then end the video on a high note.

Double Bass player Ron Bland explores the high and low notes of his bass. Listen to how the violin range compares to the double bass, hear the lowest double bass notes, and watch as Ron performs a piece of music on his highest bass notes.

Put the Sound in Your Body

Toddler to Early Elementary

Little ones can use their bodies to indicate whether they’re hearing a high or low sound. As you listen to this video, have your child(ren) reach up to the sky when they hear a high sound and touch the floor when they hear a low sound.

STEAM for Preschool and Kindergarten

This blog post contains two simple science experiments to help kids explore sound. We love the first experiment that makes sugar dance!

Sound Wave Visualization with Dancing Sugar

Cover a bowl tightly with plastic wrap or pull a balloon tightly over the opening. You may want to tape the sides to keep it in place.
Put a small scoop of sugar on top of the plastic wrap/balloon.
Have your little one(s) put their face near the bowl and have them hum or yell somewhat loudly. Watch as the sugar shakes!
Experiment with different types of sounds: combinations of loud or quiet and high or low. See if the sugar reacts different.
Explain to your child that this is because sound is vibrations. The vibrations from their voice are shaking the plastic wrap and making the sugar jump around.

STEAM for Elementary and Middle

For young elementary students, we suggest starting with the dancing sugar experiment above – many science classrooms don’t touch on the science of sound until 3rd grade or later. Once your child understands that sound is vibrations, check out this great yarn and spoon experiment that will help them explore sound even more.