STIIX Guitar Project: Engineering Music Through Physics
In the STIIX Guitar Project, students step into the shoes of instrument designers in STIIX-Ville, preparing for a “Battle of the Bands” by building their own guitar prototypes. This isn’t just a music activity — it’s a deep dive into the physics of vibration, string design, and acoustic engineering. Through guided investigation, learners explore how string tension, length, material, and body structure affect pitch, timbre, and resonance.
Over 2–4 hours of instruction, the unit follows an engineering cycle: students watch five instructional videos (Intro, Academic Concepts, How‑To, Testing & Evaluation, and a “Designer Spotlight”), sketch design ideas, build prototypes using modular STIIX materials, and test their instruments for sound quality and tuning stability. They learn that small changes — like moving where strings are anchored or tweaking frame structure — can dramatically alter the sound.
During the testing phase, teams evaluate their guitars by measuring pitch, comparing sound clarity, and making tuning adjustments. They iterate on their designs, trying different materials and configurations until they achieve their target sound. This mirrors real-world challenges in acoustic instrument manufacturing.
Teachers are fully supported with slide decks, design‑log worksheets, build guides, reflection prompts, and embedded media — all aligned to NGSS practices around energy, waves, and engineering. By the end of the project, students don’t just understand how sound works — they turn that understanding into a working instrument that they can play, demonstrate, and refine.
Bring structure and excitement to hands-on learning with STIIX-Ville — your digital hub for project guides, assessments, and student progress tracking.
What’s Included in the Box:
- Structural building sticks and connectors (STIIX system)
- String / tension materials for simulated guitar strings
- Soundboard or resonator components
- Tuning pegs or string anchor materials
- Build‑log + reflection worksheets
- Testing & evaluation guide (pitch testing, resonance, tuning)
- Design sketch templates
- Instructional video set (5 modules: Intro, Academic, How-To, Testing, Designer Spotlight)
- Teacher slide deck + lesson plan
- Presentation prompts for student showcases
