Loudness & Dynamics
This lesson is part of the Fundamentals of Sound & Music module. |
Objectives[edit]
- Student will understand the relationship between perceived loudness and amplitude
- Student will understand how pitch and amplitude interact to create perceived loudness
- Students will understand how amplitude relates to the aural concept of volume and in turn, notated dynamics
- Student will understand the scale derivation of decibels
- Student will be able to visualize amplitude and loudness on oscilloscopes and spectrograms
- Student will be able to notate various dynamic levels
Resources[edit]
Readings[edit]
- Music Theory for Musicians and Normal People: Dynamics and Articulations
- Magnuson, Sound Patterns: Dynamics
- Wolfe, Music Acoustics:
- Elsea, UCSC Electronic Music Studios: Decibels
Tools[edit]
- J. Wolfe, Physclips: Hearing Test On-Line
- Chrome Music Lab: Spectrogram
- Chrome Music Lab: Sound Waves
- Academo Virtual Oscilloscope
- (Software) Audacity
Class Activities[edit]
- Discussion and definition of wave amplitude, loudness, and dynamics
- Discuss various types of dynamics and relative contrasts
- Demonstration of loudness graph via online hearing test
- Decibel derivation
- Performance of music with various dynamics, shown on oscilloscope/spectrogram
Assignments[edit]
- Loudness graph (hearing-test online)