J-Term

Course Information

PHYSICS 691-1 Good Vibrations: The Science of Music, 4 credits (Jean Quashnock)

Why do some people like to sing in the shower? Which rock group really has the loudest concerts? How does a stereo sound system work and why are DVDs the best in high-fidelity audio?
In this class, you will:
  • make and play many musical instruments (winds, strings, percussion)
  • study the basic elements of music and explore their physical groundwork 
  • record your voice and make use of microphones and speakers
  • look into the workings of the human ear and examine hearing loss
  • test and configure a stereo sound system and sound room
  • attend a live concert and determine decibel sound levels
  • visit a professional radio studio


Time will be divided equally between lectures, class demos, student workshops, and field trips. The latter will include a concert and a studio visit. There is a nominal fee (to be collected during J-Term) to attend one concert.

There is no math prerequisite other than high-school algebra. This class can be taken to satisfy the non-lab science distribution requirement.

Distribution Requirements: SCI (non-lab)
Meeting Time: MTWRF 9:00-12:00
Prerequisites: High school algebra (music background is a plus but not required)
Fee: Cost of attending one concert (collected in J-term), and $10 for equipment collected in J-term