Course content

This course provides a basic understanding of music and speech as signals and as sound stimuli, as well as an understanding of the hearing mechanism and hearing function in relation to sound perception and cognition.

The course also gives a basic understanding of how sound is experienced in rooms, and of the technology used for sound recording, reproduction, and basic sound processing.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

The purpose is to make the student capable of

• Understanding the construction of music as an acoustical signal
• Understanding, analyzing, and describing musical signals in the time and frequency domains
• Understanding the physiology and function of the hearing mechanism
• Understanding basic neurological processing of sound, as well as cognitive aspects of music production and perception
• Understanding the basic perceptual effects of listening to sound in rooms
• Understanding the processing techniques and functionalities of equipment involved in some sound reproduction technologies

Skills:

• Analyze and describe music as an acoustical/electrical signal
• Do some basic analysis of the acoustical properties of a room.
• Describe connections between musical stimuli and cognitive experience

General competence:

The goal is to achieve

• Understanding of music as an audio signal
• Understanding of simple measuring methods and signal processing (e.g., reverberation time, T₆₀)
• Understanding of hearing as the primary sense for music experience.
• Understanding music as multifaceted sensory experience.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and obligatory exercises.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Course materials

Given at the beginning of the semester.

Credit reductions