Musical Instruments (U03424)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : PHY-3-MusInst

One half of the course reviews the current understanding of the physics of musical instruments and explores the relationship between theory and practice in musical instrument construction and performance. Four lectures on the acoustics of strings, brass, woodwind, and percussion are followed by a series of seminars in which students present the results of their research on prescribed topics in musical instrument acoustics. The other half of the course consists of a number of visits to musical instrument craftsmen and musical instrument collections, followed by a series of workshops in which students carry out and report on group projects involving the study of musical instrument acoustics.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Musical Acoustics (PHY-1-MusAc) or Introductory Musical Acoustics (PHY-1-IntMusAc). This course is not available to Senior Honours or Undergraduate Masters students in the School of Physics.

? Prohibited combinations : U01373 Musical Instruments A

Variants

? This course has variants for part year visiting students, as follows

Musical Instruments (VS1) (Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2))

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Undergraduate (School of Physics), (School of Physics, Schedule Q)

Other subject areas

Music, (School of Arts, Culture and Environment, Schedule A)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 4 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	11:10	13:00	KB
Lecture	Thursday	11:10	13:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

1)Explain basic operating principles of:
a)stringed instruments;review theories of bow-string interaction,explain significance of vibration modes of body
b)brass instruments;review theories of lip reed, explain influence of bore profile on the modes of vibration
c)woodwind instruments;describe sound generating mechanisms of flute,clarinet,oboe;explain frequency-dependent behaviour of open side holes
d)percussion instruments,give qualitative descriptions of vibration of an air-loaded drumskin,tubular bell,cymbal;discuss perception of pitch
e)electroacoustic,electromechanical,electronic instruments
2)review theories of operation of larynx in singing;explain relationship between vocal tract resonances & vowel formants;outline physical principles underlying advanced singing techniques
3)review literature in a prescribed topic in musical instrument acoustics;present seminar paper
4)outline extended Horbostel-Sachs musical instrument classification system;give several examples of instruments from each of 5 main classes
5)describe evolution of principal techniques of manufacture of woodwind and brass instruments from 16th century to now;discuss influence of materials of construction on performance
6)describe principal techniques used in making bowed and plucked stringed instruments;explain how constructional features of violin,viol,lute & guitar determine acoustical behaviour
7)describe historical evolution & principles of operation of clavichord,harpsichord,piano;explain how constructional features affect the loudness & timbre of stringed keyboard instruments
8)summarise design principles of pipe organ construction, explain sounding mechanisms of flue & reed organ pipes;describe voicing of a flue pipe
9)discuss influence of acoustical environment on the performance of music;describe modern developments in 3D sound diffusion of electronic music
10)work with a small group to research and present a prescribed topic in musical instrument acoustics