How to Rain

How to Rain It’s that time of year when rainy day after rainy day can often dampen the mood of the classroom. Without sunshine and fresh air room to run around, children can get restless and easily frustrated. Interesting new things to do can help distract them from that penned-in feeling and perk up their […]

“Exploring the Science of Sounds” is here!

I’m happy to tell you that my new book is here! “Exploring the Science of Sounds” is available at the Gryphon House website (gryphonhouse.com), Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I had so much fun designing the STEAM activities in this book and refining them with the help of my fantastic young students! They always inspire […]

Games for Exploring Timbre

Games for Exploring Timbre For his fourth birthday, Brycen received a rhythm band set. He enjoyed playing with all the instruments, and his mom, Kyleigh, was delighted that he seemed to be musically inclined. Then one day she found him playing with the maracas in a rather unusual way – he was stomping on them! […]

The Mystery of the Jingle Bell

Music and science are related in all kinds of ways, but there’s a certain musical instrument that always brings out young children’s scientific inquiry. Of course, young children are curious about everything. And one kind of thing especially intrigues them – wondering what’s inside something. Particularly when they can hear that something making a sound […]

Music and Science with “Papageno’s Song” from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”

How often do you use classical music in activities with young children? I used to be a little intimidated by the prospect. Love classical music! Love young children! But just didn’t picture how they’d look together. However, like chocolate and peanut butter joining their yumminesses to create Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, children and classical music […]

3 Ways to Wonder About a Sound

A toddler hearing an unfamiliar sound: Stops everything. Looks around for the source of the sound. Points excitedly to the source of the sound when she finds it. Asks the nearest adult, “What dat? What dat?” Continues asking until the adult answers: “A truck.” “The microwave beeping.” “A flute.” “My stomach growling.” Adult hearing an […]

Amazing Sounds of Aluminum Pie Plates

It’s so great that I love to make quiches and I’m too lazy to make my own crusts. Because then I have to buy frozen pie crusts – which come with FREE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS!!!! If you’ve never played the aluminum pie plate as a musical instrument, there are a couple things you should know:   […]

Secrets of the Stradivarius

Violins made by the Italian masters Stradivari  and Guarneri more than three hundred years ago are still the finest in the world. The brilliance and resonance of their tone is legendary, and scientists and musicians alike have been puzzling over the “secret” to the instruments’ tone for centuries. Finally, researchers may have discovered a clue: […]