Science of Art: Meet the Instruments

Join us for Science of Art: Meet the Instruments with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra (BSO), a returning Science of Art favorite that brings music to life through hands-on exploration. This fun, drop-in program is designed for all ages and families, and gives children the chance to explore classical instruments up close with members of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra.
Visitors can discover what different instruments look like, how they produce sound, and what makes each one unique. With plenty of opportunities to observe, ask questions, and engage hands-on, this experience connects the art of music with the science of sound in a way that is approachable for young learners and engaging for the whole family.
Recommended Ages: All ages and Families
Dates:  Sunday, July 12th, 2026
Times: Drop in program 1:30–3:30pm
Event Price: Free for Members | Free with Super Sunday $10 Reduced Admission
Admission Prices:

Member: FREE
Non-member: $10 
Access pass: $5

Purchase Admission: 

At WonderLab the day of the event
Online – Purchase Science of Art: Meet the Instrument Tickets 

More Information
Meet the Instruments programs are a fun, hands-on way for kids to explore music while doing real science through play. Kids get to see and feel how instruments make sound through vibration, whether it is a drumhead shaking, a string buzzing, a reed vibrating, or air moving through a horn or flute. As they try different instruments, they experience cause-and-effect in real time: hitting, plucking, or blowing transfers energy into the instrument, which then pushes sound waves through the air to our ears.
Kids also discover how pitch connects to frequency (how fast something vibrates). They can hear and test that shorter strings or shorter air columns make higher sounds, while longer ones make lower sounds. They learn that louder sounds often come from stronger vibrations, and that instrument bodies act like amplifiers because of resonance, helping certain sounds “ring” more than others.
Along the way, kids build early engineering and materials science thinking by comparing instruments made of wood, metal, and plastic, and noticing how an instrument’s size, shape, and material change the sound. The result is an experience that feels like a musical adventure, but also strengthens curiosity, careful observation, and confidence with big science ideas like energy transfer, waves, vibration, frequency, and resonance.