At its heart, this course is an exploration into sonic practices. Through observation and experimentation, we'll investigate how we can use math to describe, analyze, and predict the physical and ephemeral characteristics of sound and music. Why is the bass always the loudest thing coming through the walls when my housemate plays music? Why does an ambulance siren sound “warbly” when it passes by? What makes a sad song “sound” sad? Questions like these will guide our inquiry into a numerical, algebraic, and graphical analysis of sound. We will do this through listening, sounding, and critical play and curiosity. Specific topics will include sound as a physical wave and vibration, the design and acoustics of instruments and spaces, intervallic relationships in music theory, and interdisciplinary interpretations of sound. Students will also have the opportunity to create their own sonic composition using data analysis and various algorithmic methodologies.

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