THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2013/2014 -
- ARCHIVE as at 1 September 2013 for reference only
THIS PAGE IS OUT OF DATE

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Music

Undergraduate Course: Introductory Musical Acoustics (MUSI08024)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Course typeStandard AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) Credits10
Home subject areaMusic Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionAn introduction to the nature of musical sound and the behaviour of musical instruments.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Musical Acoustics (PHYS08021)
Other requirements Only available to students on the BMus Music degree programme.
Additional Costs None
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 1, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Learn enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Web Timetable Web Timetable
Class Delivery Information 2 hours per week for 11 weeks.
Tutorials and practical work, 1 hour per week, as arranged.

Course Start Date 16/09/2013
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 22, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 65 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours:Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Introductory Musical Acoustics2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)Introductory Musical Acoustics2:00
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course it is intended that students will be able to:
1)describe the vibratory motion of typical musical sound sources, explain what is meant by a travelling wave and a standing wave, and understand and use the formula relating the frequency, wavelength and speed of a sinusoidal sound wave.
2)draw a schematic diagram of the human ear, and outline the functions of the different parts of the ear in the hearing process.
3)discuss the relationships between the perceived pitch, loudness and timbre of a sound and the objectively measurable properties of the sound wave.
4)understand and use the formula giving the pitch interval in cents corresponding to a given frequency ratio.
5)understand and use the formula giving the decibel difference between two sounds of a given intensity ratio, and define the Sound Pressure Level of a sound.
6)explain how sound is generated, transformed and radiated by bowed and plucked stringed instruments, keyboard stringed instruments, woodwind and brass instruments, percussion instruments, electronic instruments and the human voice.
7)state the frequency ratios and the names of the pitch intervals between the first six members of a harmonic series, and explain the relationship between these intervals and the Just Diatonic Scale.
8)explain the necessity for temperament in the tuning of keyboard instruments, and discuss the differences between Just Intonation, Mean Tone Temperament and Equal Temperament.
9)define the reverberation time of a hall, understand and use a formula relating reverberation time to the volume of the hall and the absorption of its surfaces, and discuss the acoustical properties desirable in concert halls and opera houses.
10)measure and comment on the timbre of musical instruments, using a laptop computer with frequency analysis software.
Assessment Information
Coursework 40% (30% for assessed coursework and 10% presentation).
Degree examination (in the December exam Diet), 60%.
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
KeywordsAcoustics, Music, Physics
Contacts
Course organiserMr Michael Newton
Tel:
Email: Michael.Newton@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Brad Herbert
Tel: (0131 6)50 2422
Email: brad.herbert@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information
 
© Copyright 2013 The University of Edinburgh - 10 October 2013 4:56 am