Making Waves
Teachers: Josh Dresser, Grace Shin, TJ Pavlov
Class Title: General Music, Physics, Psychology
Grade level: 12th
Project Title: Making Waves
In a collaboration between physics, music, and psychology, the senior team began work on a project to build and install an instrument in a shared space in the school community. Students designed and constructed a chromatic 3-octave PVC pipe organ housed in the main stairwell of ChiTech, researched and performed popular song melodies, and explored the emotions music can invoke.
Teacher reflection:
This project was only supposed to last for 5-weeks and it took 12 weeks to construct. One of the biggest challenges in creating a large scale installation like this is in the division of labor between classes. One class would have one train of thought and another class might not pick up exactly where the last left off. This requires a lot of flexibility and patience as teachers and my colleagues did an outstanding job of project management throughout. It was probably as much fun for us as it was for our students.
- Josh Dresser, Music Teacher
Student reflection:
I think that at the end of the day we are all proud of one thing and that is that we finally got the organ up and working. Although there were a lot of obstacles throughout out it all we were able to stay on task and finish. I think that the main thing that was really stressful about doing this project was the simple fact that we (all classes) didn’t communicate so the pipes were all over the place and lost; things weren’t being labeled. Then the lack of communication started happening and everyone started moving and taking things from where they were. If anything we should have split into groups so things could be a bit more neater. Other than that everything seemed to be going smoothly. In my opinion I honestly think that our class did way better than I thought we would've done. We all could say that we learned something out of this project but I feel that I found a part of me that I didn't know existed. For example, in a way I didn't know I was good at telling people what to do and how to do it. (directing basically) Before this project I never really did participate much on other projects so for this to be my first I think that it went well and now after doing this I feel like I can do/ be part of another big project such as this one.
- Patricia E., Student
Class Title: General Music, Physics, Psychology
Grade level: 12th
Project Title: Making Waves
In a collaboration between physics, music, and psychology, the senior team began work on a project to build and install an instrument in a shared space in the school community. Students designed and constructed a chromatic 3-octave PVC pipe organ housed in the main stairwell of ChiTech, researched and performed popular song melodies, and explored the emotions music can invoke.
Teacher reflection:
This project was only supposed to last for 5-weeks and it took 12 weeks to construct. One of the biggest challenges in creating a large scale installation like this is in the division of labor between classes. One class would have one train of thought and another class might not pick up exactly where the last left off. This requires a lot of flexibility and patience as teachers and my colleagues did an outstanding job of project management throughout. It was probably as much fun for us as it was for our students.
- Josh Dresser, Music Teacher
Student reflection:
I think that at the end of the day we are all proud of one thing and that is that we finally got the organ up and working. Although there were a lot of obstacles throughout out it all we were able to stay on task and finish. I think that the main thing that was really stressful about doing this project was the simple fact that we (all classes) didn’t communicate so the pipes were all over the place and lost; things weren’t being labeled. Then the lack of communication started happening and everyone started moving and taking things from where they were. If anything we should have split into groups so things could be a bit more neater. Other than that everything seemed to be going smoothly. In my opinion I honestly think that our class did way better than I thought we would've done. We all could say that we learned something out of this project but I feel that I found a part of me that I didn't know existed. For example, in a way I didn't know I was good at telling people what to do and how to do it. (directing basically) Before this project I never really did participate much on other projects so for this to be my first I think that it went well and now after doing this I feel like I can do/ be part of another big project such as this one.
- Patricia E., Student