Undergraduate Course: Musical Acoustics (PHYS08021)
Course Outline
| School | School of Physics and Astronomy |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | An introduction to the nature of musical sound and the basic physics governing the behaviour of musical instruments. |
| Course description |
Not entered
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 82 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 9,
Summative Assessment Hours 11,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
154 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessed work, 40%
Degree examination, 60% |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the basic nature of musical sound. Explain what is meant by a travelling and standing wave and understand the relation between frequency, wavelength and speed. Have a basic understanding of the use of sound analysis software to show the frequency components of sound. Understand how the musical sound is detected by the ear and interpreted by the brain.
- Discuss the relationships between the perceived pitch, loudness and timbre of a sound. Be able to calculate the interval in pitch between sounds having a given ratio of frequencies. Be able to state the frequency ratios and pitch intervals of the first 6 members of a harmonic series.
- Explain the necessity for ¿temperament" in musical scales, & discuss the differences between scales based on Just Intonation, Mean Tone Temperament & Equal Temperament.
- Explain how sound is generated, transformed & radiated by bowed and plucked stringed instruments, keyboard stringed instruments, woodwind & brass instruments, percussion instruments, electronic instruments & the human voice
- Describe how the musical sound is influenced by the concert hall where the performance takes place. Be able to define the "reverberation time" of a concert hall and relate this to the size and design of the hall. Use sound analysis software to measure the reverberation time of a concert hall.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Tutorials and practical work, 1 hour per week, as arranged. |
| Keywords | MusAc |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Antonin Portelli
Tel: (0131 6)50 5239
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Rachel Ord
Tel: (0131 6)50 9110
Email: |
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