Marvel at the Sounds of Music

Music is all around us, a point Fernbank Museum’s new Wild Music exhibit brings home. My boys, ages 3 and 6, loved listening through headphones to how everyday physical activities, such as hauling nets, moving logs and pounding grain create unique musical melodies.  

One of the biggest hits of the visit was the station that allowed the boys to experiment with underwater sounds. While sitting in front of a large water tank, they were able to push buttons and cause a trolling motor to spin. They could also create underwater air bubbles and water drops and listen to the interesting sounds generated through the headphones.

Upon entering the “Jamming Room,” the boys quickly discovered fun that rivaled the underwater sound station. The “Jamming Room” is a soundproof room that offers a wide variety of activities, and visitors can create wild music of their own.

My husband really enjoyed the Voice Shaper, which allows people to speak into a microphone and twist their voice around several different ways. The big hit for my 3-year-old was the drums that imitated the sounds of the Earth.  He was so tickled that drums could make such sounds.

The Wild Music exhibit provides lots of interactive fun. Before leaving make sure you strike one last tune using the supersized xylophone mounted on the wall.                 

– Katrina Rucker