The STEM of Music-Seeing Sounds as an Acoustical Engineer 12/1/25

Posted by Erica DeMichele (Co-Coordinator of STEM Initiatives)

Monday, December 1, 2025

What happens when science, engineering, and music collide? At our STEM of Music Family Night, families didn’t just learn about sound, they designed it, tested it, played it, and took it home.  The evening began with a real-world problem prompt:   How can we create an instrument that produces sound we can control?  From there, families stepped into the role of acoustical engineers, exploring how sound works and how design choices affect what we hear. With over 100 participants, including the DHS STEMbassadors, the community became one, learning together in the Media Center at Delran High School.

Through hands-on investigation and guided discussion, participants identified and experimented with the properties of sound, including:

• Sound production

• Pitch

• Volume

• Vibration

• Frequency

• Duration

To make these abstract concepts visible, families used interactive digital tools such as an online oscilloscope and sound analyzer, allowing them to see sound waves change as they altered pitch or volume. These tools helped bridge the gap between theory and real-world application in an accessible, exciting way.

After exploring how sound behaves, families moved into the engineering design process. They planned, built, tested, and refined an instrument of their choice, considering the materials and parts needed to achieve their desired sound.   Instrument options included: Paper Plate Ocean Drum, Bottle Maraca, Box Guitar, Ganza Shaker, Coffee Can Drum, Paper Plate Tambourine and the Singing Straw Pan Flute.

Each build encouraged creativity while reinforcing intentional design decisions. With some Lockheed Martin engineer parents and parents who played in bands, the questions really started flowing: Why does tightening a string change pitch? How does the size of a container affect sound?

The night culminated in a joyful moment of collaboration as families came together to play as a band, following a simple guided rhythm piece. This collective performance highlighted how individual designs could come together to create a unified musical experience, just like engineers collaborating on a larger system.

Every family took home learning, inspiration, and materials including Theremin Microkits, sponsored by our STEM Champion organization, Lockheed Martin in Moorestown, sparking continued exploration of sound and electronics at home.

Families also had the opportunity to learn more about:  Technology Education course offerings at both Delran Middle School and High School, as well as how STEM pathways connect creativity, engineering, and future careers.  This night was more than a workshop, it was a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. By designing instruments, visualizing sound, and making music together, families experienced firsthand how STEM is everywhere, even in the rhythms we hear every day.  We can’t wait to build, explore, and make music together again at the following events:

• Synthe-A-Sette Multilingual STEM Family Night on February 2, 2026

• The Art of Tessellation Family event on March 9, 2026  

• The Delran STEM Fair on May 18, 2026