Back to: Multiplier Event Luxembourg
In this activity, students are challenged to play a segment of a song solely by balancing on a homemade balance board resembling a skateboard. However, this physical exercise goes beyond just balancing. Balancing on the skateboard enhances physical development by fostering skills such as movement coordination, tempo control, rhythm, balance, and precision, all of which are essential for successfully playing musical notes.
Physics plays a significant role in this activity, providing students with a deeper understanding of the principles that govern their physical movements and the musical elements of the project. It offers insights into key concepts of motion and forces. Balancing on a board requires understanding the forces acting on the body, along with concepts like centre of mass and equilibrium. Through this activity, students can explore how these forces influence their ability to maintain balance and how shifting their weight affects their stability on the board. The interaction between movement and sound creates a feedback loop, allowing students to directly observe how their actions affect the music, thereby reinforcing their understanding of the relationships between actions and outcomes in a physical context.
Mathematics also plays a crucial role in this activity by helping students understand and apply measurements related to angles and distances. For instance, they need to calculate tilt angles on the balance board to maintain their balance effectively. This application of mathematical concepts not only enhances their ability to navigate the physical challenges of the activity but also reinforces their problem-solving skills and spatial awareness.
In music, mathematical concepts such as rhythm and tempo are fundamental. Students can analyse the patterns of beats and notes, which not only enhances their musical skills but also helps them recognise the underlying mathematical relationships. By incorporating music into the learning process, students can connect abstract concepts in physics and mathematics to real-world applications, thereby deepening their understanding and improving retention of these principles.
In this activity, music captures students’ attention, transforming the learning experience into something enjoyable, which fosters enthusiasm and encourages active participation. As a result, essential musical skills are developed. Additionally, the integration of creativity allows students to explore their artistic abilities while actively engaging in the physical challenge.
The visual arts teacher can encourage students to personalise their board by decorating it with paint, markers, or stickers, giving them the opportunity to express their creativity and artistic flair.
Moreover, as a final piece of advice, a second Circuit Playground Express board could be attached to a student’s arm or hand to challenge high-performers. This would enable the student to play a song segment while balancing on the board and simultaneously moving or turning their arm or hand to play additional notes, thereby adding an extra layer of complexity and engagement.
