Class Meeting Schedule and Reading Assignments

Physics 36 / Music 36 "Acoustics and Music"

Spring Semester 2012 Duke University

Last modification to this document: 6 February 2012.

1. Th Jan 12 Introduction

• Complete Student Information Form [Link to the Google Docs form] .
• Read "About the Course: Organizational Details" (see home page of this Web site).
• Note availability of follow-up information on Web site after each class meeting.

2. Tu Jan 17 Simple Harmonic Motion, Forces, Energy [notes in handout 2]

• Read Rossing, Moore and Wheeler (RM&W) Chapters 1, 2.
• Read RM&W Ch 3, 4

3. Th Jan 19 Waves, Resonance

• Read RM&W Ch 5 and begin reading handout 3.

4. Tu Jan 24 Hearing [notes in handout 4]

• Read RM&W Ch 6 and finish reading handout 3. Plan first live performance report.

5. Th Jan 26 Sound Pressure, Loudness, etc

• Read RM&W Ch 7

6. Tu Jan 31 Pitch, Timbre

• Read RM&W Ch 8 and look over handout 5

7. Th Feb 2 Combination Tones, Harmony

• Read RM&W Ch 9

8. Tu Feb 7 Tuning, Temperament, Scales [notes in handout 6]

• Print out and study the Handout on Auditory Demonstrations [handout 7]
• Save THIS URL as a bookmark or favorite site in your laptop browser. (It is a link to a Google docs form.)
• plan to bring that laptop to class on Thursday.

9. Th Feb 9 Perception and Music

[end of material to be covered on Test I, beginning of material to be covered on Test II]

• Read RM&W Ch 10

10. Tu Feb 14 Stringed Instruments I

11. Th Feb 16 Review

• Sun Feb 19: Study Session 8 PM - Midnight: Physics Room 154

• Mon Feb 20: Study Session 8 PM - Midnight: Physics Room 154

12. Tu Feb 21 Test I

• Review RM&W Ch 10

13. Th Feb 23 Stringed Instruments II

• Read RM&W Ch 14, and article on piano tone regulation [handout 8]
• Complete First Live Performance Listening Report and plan your second report.

14. Tu Feb 28 Piano [1st report due -- comparing two live performances in the Nelson Room and the Chapel]- [notes in handout 9]

• look over handout 10, handout 11, handout 12, and handout 13 and complete term paper topic description.

• Read RM&W Ch 13

15. Th Mar 1 Percussion Instruments [Term paper proposal due by end of week.]

• Enjoy Spring Break!

16. Tu Mar 13 Wind Instruments I [notes in handout 16]

• Read Skowronek and Fisk remarks [handout 15].
• Look over the Pipe Organ materials provided under the Follow-up page of this site for Class 17.

17. Th Mar 15 Harpsichord, Clavichord, Pipe Organ

• Read RM&W Ch 11 and 12, and article on hornist Barry Tuckwell [handout 14]

18. Tu Mar 20 Wind Instruments II [notes in handout 16]

• Read RM&W Ch 15-17

19. Th Mar 22 The Human Voice as a Musical Instrument

• Read RM&W Ch 23 and handout 17; review handout 3

20. Tu Mar 27 Room Acoustics [notes in handout 18]

• Read RM&W Ch 24 and handout 19 and handout 20

21. Th Mar 29 Room Acoustics (continued) Meet in Duke Chapel. Tour will (optionally) extend beyond normal end of class period. Link to Video of Vespers 14 April 2011. Link to Bulletin for that Vespers

• Read and/or listen to handout 21

22. Tu Apr 3 Electronic Reinforcement

• Complete Second Live Performance Listening Report

[end of material to be covered on Test II]

23. Th Apr 5 Review [2nd report due -- on two live performances differing in a chosen respect]

• Sun Apr 8: Study Session 8 PM - Midnight: Physics Room 154

• Mon Apr 9: Study Session 8 PM - Midnight: Physics Room 154

24. Tu Apr 10 Test II

• Read RM&W Ch (18, 19), 20
• Complete Term Paper draft

25. Th Apr 12 Transducers [Term paper draft due]

• Read RM&W Ch 21, 22, 25

26. Tu Apr 17 Recording, Reproduction

• Read RM&W Ch 26-29

27. Th Apr 19 Synthesis

• Complete Term Paper

28. Tu Apr 24 [Final version of term paper due] Teacher / Course Evaluation

There is no final examination in this course.