One of our most popular programs here at High Touch High Tech is called Sounds Like Fun! In this program we explore sound waves and perform a few experiments with sound. This class is especially enjoyable by all the students because creating sound is fun!
They know of course that they hear sound, but how? We explore how the ear works and examine the anatomy of the ear.
One way to see sound waves is to examine the vibration of a tuning fork when put into still water.
But are people able to see sound? Studies have shown that approximately one in 2000 people experience visuals with sound. The phenomenon is called synesthesia, where one sensory pathway leads to experiences in another sensory pathway. This can manifest in different ways with different senses.
The most common type of synesthesia is when colors are seen while hearing sounds. Most often this happens when listening to music. This is called chromesthesia. The propensity to have visuals when listening tends to happen in families which clued scientists to discover that it is in part genetic.
Chromesthesia is often experienced with musical and visual artists. Reports of this ability have been seen all the way back to the 1800’s. One of those reports is in the early 1900s from a Russian composer and pianist named Alexander Scriabin. He even developed his own color system to organize the 12 chromatic pitches. And he invented a keyboard with lights!
Some examples of artists today who have this ability are Billy Eilish, Billy Joel, Tori Amos, and Kaitlin Hova. Kaitlin is a violinist and a neuroscientist!
The visual of colors when hearing sound often comes in the form of a flash of color. According to Kaitlin Hova when she was at the University of Nebraska of Omaha that she realized that she has a form of synesthesia. The lack of information on the subject inspired her and her husband to start The Synesthesia Network. She also, along with her husband, designed a violin that changes color to represent the visuals she has!
Tori Amos speaks openly about her experience and describes it , “Similar chord progressions follow similar light patterns, but try to imagine the best kaleidoscope ever.”
Billy Joel describes his experience as seeing color with either vowel or consonant sounds. He says he sees blue or green with words or song phrases ending in strong vowel sounds and consonants as having more red hues!
Billie Eilish experiences seeing shapes, colors, and feeling textures when hearing music! She says sometimes, for example, a melody could have a yellow hue with a smooth flowing texture. Sometimes she creates music with a color and texture in mind and sometimes she experiences it when the music is created. To express this ability, she designs sets in her live performances to bring the audience along with her!
As an instructor I introduce a variety of experiments to introduce the science of sound waves to children. Imagine having the capability to see those sound waves in the form of flashes of color or even smell them! Kaitlin Hova had no idea others didn’t experience what she had experienced her whole life, until she learned about this trait. I wonder if any of the children I have presented the program to have seen colors or had smells along with the sounds! It is certainly another eye-opening insight into human capabilities.
https://www.livescience.com/1408-sight-sound-trick-brain.html
https://thesynesthesianetwork.com/
https://www.wokewaves.com/posts/billie-eilish-synesthesia-music-visual-art