Catch the Vibrations

Catch the Vibrations

Barnett String Quartet

Music and science combine in this interactive program designed to demonstrate through music how sound is produced. Do all violins sound alike? What makes a Stradivarius violin worth a million dollars? What’s that white stuff on the bow?

Featuring two violins, viola, and cello (the classical string quartet), Davis Barnett’s program highlights the relationship between science and music. Through the medium of music, this program helps students understand the science of sound and learn about the process by which sound is produced in string instruments. The program is highly interactive and even includes a mini-science experiment. Students learn about sound waves, pitch, vibrato and tone quality, as they contemplate the age-old question: when does sound become music? The quartet demonstrates different techniques of playing a string instrument, including ponticello, pizzicato and col legno. The assembly also includes an overview of instrument- and bow-making—the art of the luthier; to bring this art to life, the curriculum materials include simple lesson plans that students can use to make their own instruments out of every-day materials.

Davis Barnett (viola) is joined by Diane Barnett (violin), Greg Tepperman (violin), and Gail Abbasi (cello), who is also one of Musicopia’s founders.

The content of this assembly can be expanded upon in the Barnett String Quartet’s residency program.

Request more information on this program

Back to Available Assemblies