AustSTEM’s version of the KookaOrgan

It is well known that the study of music reinforces STEM skills.  Rhythm, tempo, pitch and harmony are all mathematical concepts.

AustSTEM has produced lesson plans and apps that are oriented to music.  Apps such as Metronome and MoveMusic are examples.

Our sponsorship of 3rd-year engineering student projects at the University of Wollongong during 2021 has produced a design for a polyphonic musical keyboard driven by the Kookaberry.

The project brief was to design an electronic circuit board for use with the Kookaberry in the form of a piano keyboard that school students could use to learn and practice music. The students previously had no experience in designing and manufacturing printed circuit boards, nor had much experience with the Python computer language.  The degree of difficulty was compounded by the challenges of remote collaboration caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nonetheless, they climbed a very steep learning curve in difficult circumstances and successfully produced their working prototype. The video clip produced by the students explains what they have achieved.  Congratulations to all involved.