Undergraduate Course: Musical Instruments A (PHYS10018)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Physics and Astronomy |
College |
College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
10 |
| Home subject area |
Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy) |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None
|
Taught in Gaelic? |
No |
| Course description |
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. Five lectures on the acoustics of strings, brass, woodwind, percussion and electronic instruments are followed by a series of seminars in which students present the results of their research on prescribed topics in musical instrument acoustics. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course it is intended that a student will be able to:
1)understand and explain the basic operating principles of stringed instruments, review current theories of the bow-string interaction, and explain the significance of modes of vibration of the body of a stringed instrument
2)understand and explain the basic operating principles of brass instruments, review current theories of the nature of the lip reed, and explain the influence of bore profile on the modes of vibration of the air column of a wind instrument
3)understand and explain the basic operating principles of woodwind instruments, describe the sound generating mechanisms of the flute, clarinet and oboe, and explain the frequency-dependent behaviour of open side holes on a wind instrument
4)understand and explain the basic operating principles of percussion instruments, give qualitative descriptions of the modes of vibration of an air-loaded drumskin, a tubular bell and a cymbal, and discuss the perception of pitch in the sound of percussion instruments
5)understand and explain the basic operating principles of electroacoustic, electromechanical and electronic instruments
6)review current theories of the operation of the larynx in singing, explain the relationship between vocal tract resonances and vowel formants, and outline the physical principles underlying advanced singing techniques
7)carry out a study of research literature in a prescribed topic in musical instrument acoustics, and present the results as a seminar paper |
Assessment Information
Degree examination, 50%
Seminar report, 50%
Visiting Student Variant Assessment
Degree examination, 50%
Seminar report, 50% |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords |
MuInA |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Prof Murray Campbell
Tel: (0131 6)50 5262
Email: D.M.Campbell@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Miss Laura Gonzalez-Rienda
Tel: (0131 6)51 7067
Email: l.gonzalez@ed.ac.uk |
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