Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Learning outcomes

After a completed course the students should be able to:

• outline the principles for how sound arises and propagates as mechanical waves in different media.
• explain how musical tones are created and altered in wind, string and percussion instruments, as well as with the voice.
• describe what is meant by harmony, overtones and relations between tones in musical scales.
• outline basic acoustic principles.
• perform simple laboratory exercises and present the results.

Content

The course addresses the general properties of sound which is described as waves with speed, amplitude and frequency, propagating in a medium. Discussed is also what is meant by a tone and how loudness and pitch of a tone is related to the properties of the mechanical wave. Furthermore, the 12 tone scale is explained, and how intervals, harmonies and overtones are represented by wave patterns. Examples of how musical tones are created and altered in wind, string and percussion instruments, as well as with the voice are presented, as well as tuning and dissonance. The course also touches on basic acoustics and the history of music up to electronic music.

Instruction

Lectures, laboratory exercises, study visit.

Assessment

Presentation of laboratory exercises and study visit (2 credits). Written examination at the end of the course (3 credits)