Engineering and the Environment

ISVR3007 Musical Instrument Acoustics

Knowledge and understanding
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • The mechanisms of sound generation in musical instruments.
  • The factors that affect their tonal characteristics.
  • Perceptual issues in musical instruments.

Cognitive (thinking) skills
Having successfully completed the module you will be able to read, understand and interpret the literature relating to the acoustics of musical instruments.

Key transferable skills
Having successfully completed the module you will be better able to write essays based on a critical evaluation of scientific and other literature.

Module Details

Title: Musical Instrument Acoustics
Code: ISVR3007
Year: Acoustical Engineering, Acoustics and Music Part 3
Semester: Semester 1

CATS points: 10 CAT points (=100 hours) ECTS points: NaN
Level: Undergraduate
Co-ordinator(s): Dr Anna Barney, Professor Stephen Elliott, Dr Ian Flindell, , Dr Matthew Wright

Pre-requisites and / or co-requisites

None

The aim of this module is to provide a general introduction to the acoustics of musical instruments.

  • To introduce students to the physical mechanisms of musical instrument acoustics.
  • To familiarise them with the state of research into these mechanisms.

  • Introduction to musical instrument acoustics.
    • The perception of musical sounds.
  • Struck and plucked strings.
  • Bowed string instruments.
  • Introduction to fluid dynamics for wind instruments.
  • Brass instruments.
  • Woodwind instruments.
  • The voice.
  • Percussion.

Study time allocation

Contact hours: 2 h/wk = 20 hours
Private study hours: Up to 80 hours to research and complete assignments
Total study time: NaN hours

Teaching and learning methods

One double lecture a week. This should be complemented by independent study of textbooks and literature.

Working on a series of formal assignments which involve gathering and critically assessing information from disparate sources. Reading a number of set papers in the literature. Students are expected to read supporting texts and literature independently.

Resources and reading list

Secondary text

Physics of Musical Instruments, N.H. Fletcher
T.D. Rossing, Springer
0387983740

Assessment methods

Assessment method Number% contribution to final mark
Assignments3100