Rubber-Band Banjos and a Java Jive Bass: Projects and Activities on the Science of Music and Sound
Grade 5-7.  This thorough and lively presentation explores the world of sound and provides instructions for making musical instruments. Along the way, readers will learn about famous scientists who had musical inclinations, such as Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell, and Galileo. Numerous, clear, pen-and-ink drawings illustrate the construction of instruments from a glass harmonica, to a violin, drums, and a foot-powered organ. Some adult help will be needed for some of the projects; others are so simple that only the materials are necessary. The scientific principles behind the creation of all the wonderful noises are explained, as is basic music notation. Covering much of the same territory as Margaret McLean's Make Your Own Musical Instruments (Lerner, 1988) but including more easy-to-make instruments, this volume is a welcome addition suitable for most collections.?Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OHCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.