Bells and Marbles, Solid and Hollow, and a Concert!
What better way to swing into our Spring Holidays than to share our student’s creative passion for music. It is such an inspiration to see their learning achievements and musical engagement. Students from across the school were invited to make a contribution that they were proud to share. We have received a fabulous variety of performances, reflections and photographs that will not only entertain, but show us a child’s journey as they grow in ability. Congratulations to all the students. You not only inspire us but connect us to our own learning memories and love of music. Bravo👏🏼🌟!!! A big thank you to our community and teachers for supporting our student’s music learning in ways that are meaningful and exciting for them. I know you will enjoy the End of Term Concert Assembly: it makes for great family viewing!
Matthew Yr1 Performed ‘Snowy Owl’ 
Niamh Yr2 plays Baroque music
on her violin.
Tucker Yr3 swings ‘Caravan’
on his saxophone.
When I tap a hollow object what does it sound like? When I fill the object up and it becomes solid, and I tap it again, does the sound change? This music activity for the Junior School students was inspired by a Preps’ Inquiry into Hollow and Solid objects. Simon observed that students were testing out sound possibilities as a way of learning the differences between different found objects which were solid or hollow. To deepen their thinking, students were now asked to consider the differences of sound quality between empty or hollow, and full or solid containers. Not only did they detect that the sounds changed, but depending on what filled up the container they observed even more differences.
Albie from Prep and Huey Yr2 compared 3 identical jars. The empty/ hollow jar had a ringing quality to the sound. The jar full of water also had a ringing sound, but the pitch was lower. The jar filled with rice had a ‘whack’ quality to the sound and it was short. The boys concluded that ‘the sound can’t get through the rice, but it can get through the water’. Fantastic! Students identified high and low pitched sounds, long ringing sounds and short dampened or muted sounds, and ‘if you put a lid on it, it doesn’t ring!’ Observed Gemma from Prep.
Max Yr2 ‘Density changes pitch’ 
Henry Yr1 demonstrates the sound of the hollow Didgeridoo. 
Albie Prep and Huey Yr2 compare the sounds of jars filled with different things.
Our Music provocation for the Yr 3-6 students prompted from Tucker Yr3 to ask whether there was a copy write (patenting) issue in relation to a device known as a ‘Repinnable Music Drum’ which is used in the famous Wintergatan Marble Machine. This technology for the repinnable music drum goes back to Medieval times and was perfected in the 17th Century in the context of bell tower carillions. The same device is used in pianolas and music boxes. Tucker’s question shows expansive thinking, and raises the issue of ownership for ideas.
We have enjoyed watching the video of the Wintergatan Marble Machine at school. Not only is this a marble run after our own hearts, but it imitates a band of instruments as it plays an uplifting tune. The inventor for this machine, Martin Molin, adores mechanical instruments, and was inspired to build an instrument using a repinnable music drum after visiting the carillion housed in the bell tower of the Speelklock Museum in Utrecht in the Netherlands. So, we have learnt about the carillion too! Wesley Yr 4 commented that he was amazed that ‘one person on one (acoustic) instrument could play music that the whole town could hear’.
We compared 3 performances of the music from the Marble Machine. The first was the original performance with Martin Molin playing the Marble Machine, the second was seeing this music performed on the carrilon in Utrecht, and the third was a live performance of the band Wintergatan in concert. Ava in Yr3 observed that the Wintergatan band needed amplification for their music to be heard by a crowd, whereas the carillon did not. Ziyu in Yr4 thought that the band of 4 musicians did a really good job of imitating all the sounds of the Marble Machine, not just the music it made, but also the sound of the crank.
The Wintergatan Marble Machine. 
A Repinnable Music Drum.
of the Wintergatan Marble Machine.
What I love about our music learning at PHPS is that we are constantly discovering that music is connected to pretty much everything: just follow that trail of interest!
Many thanks to students and families for making another series of adventures in Music Online enjoyable and inspiring. Lockdown come with challenges and unexpected blessings! Have a wonderful Spring holiday… the best that you can, and I look forward, with fingers crossed, to seeing you back at school next term.
Take care everyone. Cheerio🌈💐😺 Deb