MUS 369G / COM 369G / ELE 369G   Technologies and Music

Spring 2020, TR 2:00–3:15 pm, White Hall 205

Technologies and Music (3 credits): Introduction to Western music tonal systems; orchestra instruments; mathematics and physics of musical acoustics; physiology of auditory system; audio engineering; microphones, amplifiers and speakers; software for synthesis; ethics in music industry.


Founding Professors:
Class photo (Spring 2019)    Click here for high-resolution image.


General Education Student Learning Outcomes
  • G–Grand Challenge – Exploration of multiple perspectives of areas of contemporary significance, including their ethical implications.
  • A1 (full) – Understand and apply theories and methods of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) disciplines.

Grading:     Exam #1 (23%), Exam #2 (23%), Exam #3 (23%), Project (23%), Attendance (8%).
      Extra 3% - Attending "Geoffrey Gibb's 80th Birthday Celebration” 3 pm, March 29, 2020, Fine Arts Center

Course Syllabus:    Spring 2020     Pre-class survey

Sample Exams:    Exam 1, Solution 1;    Exam 2, Solution 2,    Exam 3, Solution 3.

Useful freeware:    OpenOffice, Audecity, VCV Rack, Crescendo, GIMP, Inkscape, Pure Data, Chromatic Tuner.

Professional software:    Finale, Sibelius, MuseScore, Noteflight, Max.

Useful cloud tools:    Graphing calculator, Scientific calculator, Pitch test, Interval ear training, Chord identifier,
            Tone generator, Virtual piano, Flute design, PDF compressor.

Useful links:

  • Rhody RAM Line – Real-time bus locator between Memorial Union and Schneider Electric.
  • L01 – Learn and listen to the orchestra instrument.
  • L02: Listen to these three pieces on YouTube to get the classical symphony sounds in your ear in a fun way:
    • L02a - Sorcerer’s Apprentice
    • L02b - Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the orchestr (also see description)
    • L02c - Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
  • Jim Croce: Time in a Bottle - YouTube, chords, bio.
  • Jim Croce: New York's Not My Home - YouTube, chords.
  • Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - YouTube, chords, thesis, bio.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach: BWV 846 - YouTube, music, bio.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach: BWV 867 - YouTube, music.

Reading Materials:

  • 01a – Weekly schedule.
  • 01b – The Physics of Music and Musical Instruments.
  • 01c – Logarithms.
  • 02a – Prof. Aberdam's slides on Instruments of the Orchestra.
  • 02b – Instruments of the Orchestra.
  • 02c – Musical Acoustics.
  • 02d – Fundamentals of Musical Acoustics.
  • 02e – Prof. Aberdam's notes: Orchestra, Acoustic, Temperaments.
  • 03a – Music Temperament and Pitch.
  • 03b_E – [Sakai] Theberge, P. (1997) “Technology, Consumption, and Musical Practice.” In Any Sound You Can Imagine: Making Music, Consuming Technology” (1-16). Hanover, NH: University Press of England.
  • 03c_E – The Failure of Utilitarian Ethics in Political Economy.
  • 04a_E – [Sakai] Greene, P.D. (2005). “Wired Sound and Sonic Cultures.” In P.D. Greene & T. Porcello (Eds.) Wired for Sound: Engineering and Technologies in Sonic Cultures (1-22). Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press.
  • 04b_E – Why buy when we can pirate? The role of intentions and willingness to pay in predicting piracy behavior.
  • 04c –Mathematics of Musical Temperament and Harmony
  • 05a – Spreadsheet for quantifying equal temerament and well temperament.
  • 05b – Sampling theorem, MP3.
  • 06a – Auditory system - anatomy and physiology.
  • 06b – MIDI tutotial.
  • 07a – [Sakai] Moorefield, V. (2005). “From Mirror to Beacon” (1-41). In The Producer as Composer: Shaping the Sounds of Popular Music.” Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
  • 07b – [Sakai] Thompson, D.M. (2005). “The Modern Studio: Recording Studio Basics” (13-32). In Understanding Audio. Boston, MA: Berklee Press.
  • 09a – [Sakai] Pinch, T. & Trocco, F. (2002). “Buchla’s Box” (32-52) and “Shaping the Synthesizer” (53-69). In Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
  • 09b – VCV Rack: Open-Source Virtual Modular Synthesizer. download
  • 09c_E – To Name a Thief: Constructing the Deviant Pirate.
  • 10a – Music theory, MIDI.
  • 10b – Basic Music Theory for Beginners - a Complete Guide.
  • 11a_E – Ethics in Music Publication.
  • 12a – Audacity composition project.
  • 12c – Flute project.
  • 12d –The Acoustics of Woodwind Musical Instruments.
  • 12e – Theremin.
  • 13a – Letter to Emily White. link
  • 13b – Arithmetic on the Internet: The Ethical Pool Solution to Streaming Royalty Allocation. link
  • 14a – Inharmonicity, guitar acoustics.