Using scrap to produce music
First year students from the institute for Sound and Vibration Research were set an icebreaker challenge to design and build their own musical instrument using scrap items and a gift voucher for a DIY store.
The Scrapheap Orchestra Challenge was set for Acoustical Engineering and Acoustics and Music students as part of their induction week; in teams they were set the challenge to create a working orchestra of musical instruments using scrap materials and to demonstrate them at the end of the challenge.
The students came up with innovative and ingenious uses for the materials including a trombone from telescopic bicycle forks, a set of tubular bells from a child stair gate and an ironing board, and flutes from wardrobe rails.
Dr Tim Waters comments: "The project was conceived to inspire curiosity about how engineering structures make sounds, to provide a backdrop for future studies, and of course to have fun".
Dan Wallace, a first year student, said "Scrapheap Acoustics was an inspired, hands-on introduction to the Acoustical Engineering programme, and a great way to get to know our new coursemates".