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Visitors can play a keyboard at the Science of Rock exhibit opening Thursday. [Photos from Elevation Productions]
Here's a science lesson Chuck Berry would have enjoyed: It's got a backbeat, you can't lose it.
That's essentially the hook for an interactive Detroit exhibit called "The Science of Rock 'n' Roll," opening Thursday at the Michigan Science Center in Midtown.
Visitors will see, hear and experience how technology has changed music and distribution, as well as the flip side -- how rock pushed technology forward. The traveling show, being previewed to the media Tuesday morning, includes presentations on how music affects the brain and how varied elements and instruments unite when composing songs.
Visitors during the Kansas City stop find a groove at the interactive guitar portion.
Visitors can play drums and use headphones to hear themselves experiment with a keyboard, guitars and guitar pedals. There's also a recording booth to record a vocal sample.
Artifacts include a 45 RPM record and player. a RCA Victor radio, eight-track cassettes, the first Sony Walkman from 1979 (the iPod of its era), Sony's first wireless mic, an old Yamaha CD burner (see video below), amps and recorders from tape to digital -- as well as no-tech displays of posters, concert tickets and KISS dolls.
The show, staged by a Toronto company, had all been in Kansas City since October. Admission, which includes the rest of the Science Center that reopened six months ago, is $19.95 or $16.95 for kids up to 12. Members get in for $7. Recordings and video of instrumental and vocal experiences are available at extra cost.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, 10a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.
The traveling show includes a number of interactive music-making and recording opportunities.
