In the coming months we will begin to understand music on its most fundamental level, that of sound production, propagation, and perception. Class time will be divided between lectures, demonstrations, videos, lab experiments and field trips. One of the most important aspects of the course will be to learn by doing. Below is a rough outline of the topics we will cover this semester.
Text: Donald Hall, Musical Acoustics
Outline I. Learning the language. A. The nature of science B. The nature of sound C. The measures of physics II. Waves and Vibrations A. Simple harmonic motion B. Waveforms C. Addition of two waves D. Standing waves and resonances III. Sound A. Production B. Propagation: reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference C. Sound effects: Doppler shifts, sonic booms, beats. D. Sound intensity IV. Complex waves A. Synthesis of complex waves B. (Fourier) analysis of complex waves C. Tone color V. The human ear and voice A. Physiology B. Perception of sound C. Analysis of vocal sounds and speech. VI. Instruments A. Stringed instruments B. Percussion instruments C. Flutes and Pipes D. Reed instruments VII. Temperaments VIII. Acoustics IX. Electronic sound A. Recording B. Computers and CD's C. Synthesizers