Whales compose, bullfrogs chorus, songbirds greet the dawn, and people everywhere sing and dance. They’re all part of sounds in nature and in life. Connect with the music around you and in other parts of the world, even make your own recordings at “Wild Music: Sounds and Songs of Life” at the Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, Oct. 4 through Dec. 31.

The traveling exhibit invites multicultural and intergenerational audiences to better understand what makes music, whether it’s in wild life or city life. Through hands-on activities that not only allow for listening, but also seeing and feeling, visitors will discover that nature is filled with “musicians” that create distinct rhythms to communicate with and relate to one another.

Research shows there’s real evidence for the biological origins of music. “Wild Music” reveals how creatures interact through different melodies and how this symphony of life impacts the human mind in early development and with memory.

Visitors will explore:

• Soundscapes. Explore sound and music that come from the ocean, the forest and the city. Experiment with how sound travels underwater; interpret spectrograms, or pictures, of bird songs; and discover how music influences memory.
• Jamming Room. Compose songs in this soundproof studio using soundscapes, animal voices, percussion instruments and your own voice.
• Bioacoustic Lab. Compare the human larynx with the bird syrinx, use an electrolarynx to “speak” without using your voice and experiment with vibrating metal reeds to “ feel” sound.

With its multicultural content and attention to accessibility, “Wild Music” appeals to diverse, intergenerational audiences. It is designed to be accessible to all visitors, including those using wheelchairs and those who are vision- and hearing-impaired. In addition, “Wild Music” text is printed in large type in both English and Spanish.

Also, the exhibits themselves are made from recycled materials, the first such exhibit hosted by the VLM, which is a designated Virginia Green Attraction.

“Wild Music: Sounds & Songs of Life” is a production of the Science Museum of Minnesota, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the Association of Science-Technology Centers. Major support from the National Science Foundation and additional support from Harman International, Inc. and the NEC Foundation of America made the national exhibit tour possible.

The Virginia Living Museum is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris, Blvd., Newport News (I-64 Exit 258-A). It is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon-5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Dec. 24, 25 and Jan. 1.

Regular admission is $15 for adults and $12 for children (ages 3-12). Ages 2 and under are free. Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Call 757-595-9135 to make group reservations.

Call 757-595-1900 or visit www.thevlm.org for more information. Information about the exhibit is also available at www.wildmusic.org

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