Course syllabus for Musical acoustics

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-12 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameMusikakustik
  • CodeACE170
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPSOV
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyCivil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Physics
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingUG - Pass, Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 38121
  • Maximum participants25
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0119 Written and oral assignments 7.5 c
Grading: UG		2.5 c5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Basic course in acoustics.

Aim

Musical Instruments are part of our cultural heritage and have been developed over thousands of years. The functioning of musical instruments i.e. sound generation and radiation are of high complexity. Many of the underlying mechanisms are common with the mechanisms found in machinery (e.g friction bow string and squealing noise from tram wheels). Musical instruments also offer a deep insight in human perception which can be applied in other areas such as room acoustics or sound design of products. The course aims to give acousticians a broader view on sound generation and sound radiation of musical instruments applicable also for traditional engineering problems where sound and vibrations plays an important role.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • classify and explain musical instruments according to their history, physical function, or musical use.
  • apply methods to describe musical instruments and their timbral and physical characteristics.
  • transfer the methodology and insight from musical instruments to e.g. applications in experimental vibrational analysis and noise control.
  • apply their acquired knowledge in rating quality and playability of musical instruments.

Content

  • Harmonics and intervals.
  • Harmonics relation of fundamental and harmonics, formants, non-harmonics, perception of sounds.
  • Form, history, function, intonation, timbre, directivity and use in music for string instruments, flutes, woodwinds, brass, percussion instruments, synthesizers and voice.
  • Relevant parameters for hall and stage acoustics.
  • Methods for parameter assessment of acoustic properties.

Organisation

The course comprises 14 lectures and a number of experimental tasks.

Literature

Recommended course literature is N. H. Fletcher & T. D. Rossing, 1997, The Physics of Musical Instruments, 2nd Edition, Springer

Examination including compulsory elements

Based on report of the project work.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.