Class Meeting Schedule and Reading Assignments

Physics 36 / Music 36 "Acoustics and Music"

Spring Semester 2010 Duke University

Last modification to this document: 11 November 2009.

1. Th Jan 14 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 19 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 21 Waves, Resonance

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

4. Tu Jan 26 Hearing [notes in handout 4]

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

5. Th Jan 28 Sound Pressure, Loudness, etc

• Read RM&W Ch 7

6. Tu Feb 2 Pitch, Timbre

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

7. Th Feb 4 Combination Tones, Harmony

• Read RM&W Ch 9

8. Tu Feb 9 Tuning, Temperament, Scales [notes in handout 6]

• Study Handout on Auditory Demonstrations [handout 7]

9. Th Feb 11 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 16 Stringed Instruments I

11. Th Feb 18 Review

• Sun Feb 21: Study Session 8 PM - Midnight: Physics Room 154

• Mon Feb 22: Study Session 8 PM - Midnight: Physics Room 154

12. Tu Feb 23 Test I

• Review RM&W Ch 10

13. Th Feb 25 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 Mar 2 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 4 Percussion Instruments [Term paper proposal due by end of week.]

• Enjoy Spring Break!

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

• Read RM&W Ch 11 and 12, and article on hornist Barry Tuckwell [handout 14]
• 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 18 Harpsichord, Clavichord, Pipe Organ

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

18. Tu Mar 23 Room Acoustics [notes in handout 18]

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

19. Th Mar 25 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.

• Review RM&W Ch 11 and 12

20. Tu Mar 30 Wind Instruments II [notes in handout 16]

• Read RM&W Ch 15-17

21. Th Apr 1 The Human Voice as a Musical Instrument

• Read and/or listen to handout 21

22. Tu Apr 6 Electronic Reinforcement

• Complete Second Live Performance Listening Report

[end of material to be covered on Test II]

23. Th Apr 8 Review [2nd report due -- on two live performances differing in a chosen respect]

• Sun Apr 11: Study Session 8 PM - Midnight: Physics Room 154

• Mon Apr 12: Study Session 8 PM - Midnight: Physics Room 154

24. Tu Apr 13 Test II

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

25. Th Apr 15 Transducers [Term paper draft due]

• Read RM&W Ch 21, 22, 25

26. Tu Apr 20 Recording, Reproduction

• Read RM&W Ch 26-29

27. Th Apr 22 Synthesis

• Complete Term Paper

28. Tu Apr 27 [Final version of term paper due] Teacher / Course Evaluation

There is no final examination in this course.