Pasadena Memorial High School students had the experience of a lifetime recently when professor and chair of the organ department at Juilliard Paul Jacobs visited their school and played an organ for them.

But Jacobs didn't just play any organ-he played the organ the AP Physics students made as part of the school's "Switched On Physics" project.

"I've never seen anything like this,"Jacobs said. "It's extraordinary what these students have constructed."

"Switched On Physics: Engineering, Waves and Alternative Energy" is a perpetual project in which AP Physics students designed and built a fully functional digital pipe organ. The project is a dynamic, multi-faceted combination of physics, music, engineering, ecological science, performing arts and mathematics and is designed to generate increased student interest in advanced engineering, science and high technology while exposing students to fine music.

Memorial AP Physics teacher and project coordinator Scott Graham said he was excited for his students to have the opportunity to meet Jacobs and listen to him play the organ.

"I am a huge fan of the amazing skill Mr. Jacobs has," Graham said. "If there could be anything that exceeds his skill at organ, it would be his passion and enthusiasm for fine organ music. We are proud to expose our students to the music and to his positive message of how to realize goals through hard work and discipline."

In his message to the students, Jacobs expressed his love and passion for music, which he said is what has carried him to his success in life and encouraged the students to find that same love and passion in their interests.

"Passion is the right word for music," Jacobs said. "My love for music was so intense ever since I was a young boy. Music is about people and making connections, and my greatest joy is to share my music with others, such as you are doing through this extraordinary project."

Graham said he hopes the students took away a deeper understanding of the musical message Jacobs shared with them.

"I hope our students realized how much their situations might possibly have in common with Mr. Jacobs' musical odyssey, even though it may not be overtly obvious or apparent," he said. "I also hope our students could see how dedication can produce excellence in a person's life, and that they have the means to pursue and realize a dream through sheer determination and will power."

Graham started the digital organ project as a teacher at Dobie High School last spring with Dobie AP Physics teacher Mary Obenauf receiving a $10,000 grant from BP through KHOU's A+ for Energy program. Moving to Memorial last fall, Graham and Obenauf decided to expand the project to both schools to directly impact the nearly 6,000 students at both schools instead of limiting the project to just one school. Representatives from BP and KHOU were also present at Jacobs' recent performance at Memorial.

"BP and KHOU have helped provide a means to the realization of this project," Graham said. "We can not adequately express the magnitude of our thanks. It means a great deal to have the support of BP and KHOU, and the exposure they have given to our vision will help us share it with thousands of students. We can not thank them enough for their interest and participation."

The organ is powered exclusively by solar power cells which store energy in deep cycle batteries, and it runs from DC (Direct Current) power and draws 400mAmps. Graham said he and his colleagues plan to pursue a sustainability proposal with BP to build a second organ. The organ components are portable, and students are able to break down the organ to move it.
Many skills were required on behalf of all students involved in the planning, design and creation of the computer from scratch.
"While the project has created the organ which can be performed by one person, the project captivated the interest of all students who participated in its design and construction and it appeals to all students who wish to hear, play it or design one of their own," Graham said.
Memorial student Matt Koby has been responsible for programming the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), which is an industry-standard protocol that enables electronic musical instruments, computers and other equipment to communicate, control and synchronize with each other. Koby has solely implemented the functionality of the computer interface.
Musical performance skill is also critical to the successful final presentation of the organ project, and Dobie student and regional organ champion John Potter has performance skills and general knowledge of the organ and music that have made the final implementation of the project viable.

Although the skills of Potter and Koby are crucial to the development and production of the digital pipe organ, Graham said all science students who participate and provide valuable contributions are necessary to the project's success as project participants include ESL, IPC, SIOP, general physics and AP students in ninth through 12th grades.

"Dobie and Memorial students have come together to design and implement this project, and it would not be a reality without all of them," Graham said. "This project is the combination of efforts from a variety of students working in harmony as a team. Our builders and designers range from ninth graders to seniors. We are grateful to each of them and are incredibly impressed with their contributions."

The project recently received a $5,000 mini-grant from the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation, which will assist in the beginning construction of the second organ. To help the world go "green," Graham said he is in hopes of building operable ranks of pipes from recycled materials such as glass bottles, metal pipes and bamboo while powering them exclusively with alternative energy sources. Each year, new groups of students will design calculate, test and construct pipes for the organs.

Graham also said a future goal for the project is to take the organ to as many middle schools and elementary schools as possible for physics, math and music demonstrations to encourage young people to enter science and appreciate traditional music.

"Through this project, we ultimately hope to showcase the skills of our young musicians and engineers and we hope to recruit young students into science, technology, engineering and education careers," Graham said. "We want to help our students create partnerships for scholarship programs with our sponsors to help our nation improve the shortages we are currently facing in these fields."

While it is the work of the students that is making the project come to life, it is the support of the district and the community that has made it a reality.

"I hope that Mr. Jacobs, BP, KHOU and our education foundation can have some idea of the enormity of their integrated contributions to the realization of this project," Graham said. "Their support of teachers and innovative projects allow us to stimulate the creativity of our students, and it gives our students the opportunity to see that people care for them and that their needs and interests are worthwhile and a noble investment. We appreciate their sharing of our vision and we express to them our deepest thanks."