Class meetings

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:25 - 5:40 PM, Room 128 Physics (old room number 114). Occasional meetings in other places (e.g. Duke Chapel, Bone Rehearsal Hall).

Instructor

Dewey Tull Lawson, Ph.D., e-mail address: dtl@phy.duke.edu

Prerequisites

No prerequisite. Some background in any one of the following areas will be helpful: physics, music (theory or performance), engineering, psychology of hearing, physiology.

Synopsis of course content

Physical principles underlying human hearing, traditional musical instruments, and room acoustics. Electronic recording, analysis, reproduction, and synthesis of musical sounds. Related topics involving music theory, composition, performance practice, instrument making, architecture, and music criticism.

Textbook

The Science of Sound, Third Edition (2002), by Thomas D. Rossing, F. Richard Moore, and Paul A. Wheeler, Addison-Wesley. Other readings will be available through the course web site: http://www.phy.duke/~dtl/

Assignments

Two brief reports on live performances attended during the semester. Selected homework assignments will be collected and graded.

Exams

Two, during class meetings, roughly one third and two thirds of the way through the semester, respectively. No final exam.

Term Papers

Term paper (nominal length 20 pages) on an individual research topic approved by the instructor. Term paper conferences available. Written topic proposals due before Spring break. Draft of paper submitted for comments by early April. Final version due by last class meeting of semester.

Grade to be based on

40% exams, 40% term paper, 20% performance reports and homework -- with satisfactory performance required in both exam and term paper categories for a passing course grade.