Class Meeting Schedule and Reading Assignments

Physics 36 / Music 36 "Acoustics and Music"

Spring Semester 2008 Duke University

Last modification to this document: 5 February 2008

1. Th Jan 10 Introduction

• Complete Student Information Form [handout 1] .
• 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 15 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 17 Waves, Resonance

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

4. Tu Jan 22 Hearing [notes in handout 4]

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

5. Th Jan 24 Sound Pressure, Loudness, etc

• Read RM&W Ch 7

6. Tu Jan 29 Pitch, Timbre

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

7. Th Jan 31 Combination Tones, Harmony

• Read RM&W Ch 9

8. Tu Feb 5 Tuning, Temperament, Scales [notes in handout 6]

• Study Handout on Auditory Demonstrations [handout 7]

9. Th Feb 7 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 12 Stringed Instruments I

11. Th Feb 14 Review

• Sun Feb 17: Study Session 8 PM - Midnight: Physics Room 154

• Mon Feb 18: Study Session 8 PM - Midnight: Physics Room 154

12. Tu Feb 19 Test I

• Review RM&W Ch 10

13. Th Feb 21 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 26 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 consider possible term paper topics

• Read RM&W Ch 13

15. Th Feb 28 Percussion Instruments

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

16. Tu Mar 4 Wind Instruments I [notes in handout 16]

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

17. Th Mar 6 Harpsichord, Clavichord, Pipe Organ [Term paper proposal due by end of week.]

• Enjoy Spring Break!

• Review RM&W Ch 11 and 12

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

• Read RM&W Ch 15-17

19. Th Mar 20 The Human Voice as a Musical Instrument

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

20. Tu Mar 25 Room Acoustics [notes in handout 18]

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

21. Th Mar 27 Room Acoustics (continued) Meet in regular place, move to Duke Chapel during class. Tour of Duke Chapel will (optionally) extend beyond normal end of class period.

• Read and/or listen to handout 21
• Complete Second Live Performance Listening Report

22. Tu Apr 1 Electronic Reinforcement

[end of material to be covered on Test II]

23. Th Apr 3 Review [2nd report due -- on two live performances differing in a chosen respect]

• Sun Apr 6: Study Session 8 PM - Midnight: Physics Room 154

• Mon Apr 7: Study Session 8 PM - Midnight: Physics Room 154

24. Tu Apr 8 Test II

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

25. Th Apr 10 Transducers [Term paper draft due]

• Read RM&W Ch 21, 22, 25

26. Tu Apr 15 Recording, Reproduction

• Read RM&W Ch 26-29

27. Th Apr 17 Synthesis

• Complete Term Paper

28. Tu Apr 22 [Final version of term paper due] Teacher / Course Evaluation

There is no final examination in this course.