? Credit Points : 10  ? SCQF Level : 10  ? Acronym : PHY-3-MusInstA

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.

? 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 : U03424 Musical Instruments

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

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

Home subject area

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

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

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

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date Start End Room Area Additional Information 24/09/2007 11:00 13:00 Lecture Room 6203, JCMB KB

All of the following classes

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

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

Degree examination, 50%
Seminar report, 50%

Exam times

Diet Diet Month Paper Code Paper Name Length 1ST May 1 - 2 hour(s) 2ND August 1 - 2 hour(s)

The Course Secretary should be the first point of contact for all enquiries.

Course Secretary

Mrs Linda Grieve
Tel : (0131 6)50 5254
Email : linda.grieve@ed.ac.uk

Course Organiser

Prof Murray D Campbell
Tel : (0131 6)50 5262
Email : D.M.Campbell@ed.ac.uk

School Website : http://www.ph.ed.ac.uk/

College Website : http://www.scieng.ed.ac.uk/