Creating Musical Instruments with Parametric Studio
Music plays a huge role in brain development. It can help a child learn everything from mathematics, English, and even science.
Parametric Studios has always encouraged learning of any kind and now we will produce kits to help kids learn not just to play music, but create musical instruments.
“We are planning on putting out a new design tool for kids in early elementary school levels,” said Chris Whitmer, co-founder, and CTO. “The kits will incorporate musical instruments with smartphone and tablet applications.”
The application kits allow kids in the program to construct instruments in a virtual environment.
Students can discover parts of the instrument they help create to play music. Our web-based platform is great for kids to learn both at home and at school.
The Augmented reality allows students to create Rube Goldberg-style contraptions to play music.
“They can play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with marbles,” Whitmer said.
During an unprecedented time, parents and teachers alike are looking for meaningful ways to engage students in learning from home. Parametric Studio’s tools offer hundreds of resources online from generating math problems to reading stories aloud that generate math problems or read stories aloud. With the software, Parametric Studio provides families the ability to turn everyday movements into learning experiences. They can build a xylophone, trumpet, or an entire orchestra. Those instruments can trigger other contraptions as well.
Ideally, the program will be included in a kit box students can get in a classroom setting where students can learn how to use the instruments individually. Parents can also get involved with a subscription crate in the application.
“You can create one idea and next month integrate a whole new instrument,” Whitmer said.
We decided to get involved with this idea because research proves that there is a direct correlation between STEM projects and Art, making way for the STEAM approach to education.
Music stands at the intersection of math and engineering, both in how it is played and in the ideas needed to create instruments.
“You can create one idea and next month integrate a whole new instrument”
The music kits utilize augmented reality and can help younger kids learn AR concepts.
“It all has a very interesting tabletop game feel to it,” Whitmer said.
Musical instruments touch on different areas of math and science and let kids see how STEM and the arts all co-mingle together.
“These kits are not just things that you build,” Whitmer said. “They’re things you learn from and that helps kids develop ideas they wouldn’t otherwise.”
All of the kits are adjustable and can create a huge variety of items.
Parametric Studio is devoted to providing students in grades K-12 with tools and opportunities to have rich project-based learning experiences with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
“We are always trying to find ways to make STEM and computer science more approachable and fun for children,” Whitmer said.
