Acoustics of Musical Instruments

Subject guarantor:

Zdeněk OTČENÁŠEK

Name of lecturer(s):

Zdeněk OTČENÁŠEK

Learning outcomes of the course unit:

The aim of the course is to present a basic core of information about the acoustic characteristics of classic musical instruments and the human voice.

Mode of study:

Lecture

Prerequisites and co-requisites:

General awareness of musical instruments and acoustics.

Recommended optional programme components:

Course contents:

1. Musical instruments as an acoustical system, tone generation models. Division of musical instruments from an acoustical point of view.

2. Chordophones, string vibration, resonator characteristics. Wood-winds, oscillating mechanisms, vibration of the air column.

3. Percussive and membrane percussive instruments, stick, board and membrane vibration. Tuning musical instruments, overview of systems, tuning measurement.

4. Dynamic and output characteristics of musical instruments. Musical instrument tone color and their characteristics.

5. The color of an isolated tone and instrument sound averaging. Musical instrument sound direction emission characteristics.

6. The human vocal instrument, vowels and consonants, formants, whisper, acuteness, the melody of words. Output, word spectrum and intelligibility, direction characteristics. The singing voice, its development and division according to range.

7. Intonation and singing techniques, breathing. The dynamic characteristics of the singing voice.

Recommended or required reading:

Syrový, V.: Hudební akustika AMU 2003, kap. 6

Planned learning activities and teaching methods:

Assessment methods and criteria:

Oral exam of the assigned material.

Course web page:

Note:

Schedule for winter semester 2012/2013:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

Schedule for summer semester 2012/2013:

	06:00–08:0008:00–10:0010:00–12:0012:00–14:0014:00–16:0016:00–18:0018:00–20:0020:00–22:0022:00–24:00
Mon	místnost () OTČENÁŠEK Z. 14:00–14:45 (přednášková par. 1)
Tue
Fri
Thu
Fri

Date	Day	Time	Tutor	Location	Notes	No. of paralel
	Mon	14:00–14:45	OTČENÁŠEK Z.			přednášková par. 1

The subject is a part of the following study plans:

• Zvuková tvorba - magistr (qualification subject)