Activity
The Heartbeat of Music
Hands-on activity for students who are blind or visually impaired to explore what kind of music lowers heartrate.
This science project was done by Melissa, who is a student at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI).
Question
Which music will lower heart rate most: latino, classical, or pop?
Hypothesis:
At first I had chosen latino music as the music which would lower stress and heart rate because I like latino music best, but after doing research I switched to classical based on the research. I learned that a hypothesis should be based on research.
Materials
- iPod
- earbuds
- song from each type of music, latino, classical and pop
Procedure
- Gather the materials.
- Measure each person’s beats per minute.
- Grab each individuals wrist and place the heart monitor on their wrist.
- Write down the information on the data table.
- Repeat the process with the other individuals.
- Get earbuds and give them to the individuals.
- Play the latino song.
- Take the individual’s pulse to see if the pulse has change the same way you we you did in step 3.
- Record information on the data table.
- Wait 20 seconds then play classical music for 30 seconds.
- Repeat step 8 and step 9.
- Wait 20 seconds then play pop music for 30 seconds the same way you did in step 10.
- Repeat steps 8 and 9 again.
- Continue this process for the next 9 individuals, repeating steps 6 one through 13.
- Look at data and compare it to hypothesis.
- See if hypothesis was correct based on data then draw conclusion.
- Clean up the area.
Data
Average change in heart rate :
- Latino : Decrease of 2 BPM
- Classical : Decrease of 2.7 BPM
- Pop : Decrease of 2 BPM
Conclusion
The hypothesis was supported by my data because classical had a decrease of 2.7 BPM more than the other two genres of music.
Variations
Other types of music could be tested.
NGSS Standards:
- Plan and conduct an investigation individually and collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence, and in the design: decide on types, how much, and accuracy of data needed to produce reliable measurements and consider limitations on the precision of the data (e.g., number of trials, cost, risk, time), and refine the design accordingly. (HS-ESS2-5)
By Laura Hospitál
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