Investigating the connection between physics and music in an introductory acoustics course

Abstract

Sound and music is an introductory acoustics course offered at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. The target audience is primarily non-science majors fulfilling their math and science requirements. Over the span of its 25 + year history it has regularly attracted students interested in majoring in music technology and acoustics. Emphasis of the course is placed on the physics of music and music theory with attention paid to the interconnection between atomic physics and music. Fourier’s Theorem is used in making this connection. Sound editing programs such as Amadeus allow students to visualize recorded or synthesized sounds, and then analyze their spectra using Fourier analysis. Most course activities have been developed in accordance with Physics Education Research techniques and are designed using a discovery-based approach. Several activities from Sound & Music were recently highlighted in an article published online by Physics Today titled Composing Atom Music. Although Rossing, Moore & Wheeler’s The Science of Sound is the primary text, course materials are drawn from numerous sources. This presentation will focus on the course design, how the text book is used and will discuss the design and implementation of sample class activities.Sound and music is an introductory acoustics course offered at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. The target audience is primarily non-science majors fulfilling their math and science requirements. Over the span of its 25 + year history it has regularly attracted students interested in majoring in music technology and acoustics. Emphasis of the course is placed on the physics of music and music theory with attention paid to the interconnection between atomic physics and music. Fourier’s Theorem is used in making this connection. Sound editing programs such as Amadeus allow students to visualize recorded or synthesized sounds, and then analyze their spectra using Fourier analysis. Most course activities have been developed in accordance with Physics Education Research techniques and are designed using a discovery-based approach. Several activities from Sound & Music were recently highlighted in an article published online by Physics Today titled Composing Atom Music. Although Rossing, Moore & Wheele...