Sounds Of Music C

[olivia.m19]

1) How is the classification of percussion instruments defined? (what makes an instrument a percussion instrument?)
2) How do you change the pitch of a drum?
3) How do you change the volume of a drum?
4) Do all percussion instruments have the same Hornbostel-Sachs classification? What classification(s) do they fall into?
5) How is the sound energy vibration in a drum different than from that of a string or wind instrument?

[mjcox2000]

1) How is the classification of percussion instruments defined? (what makes an instrument a percussion instrument?)
2) How do you change the pitch of a drum?
3) How do you change the volume of a drum?
4) Do all percussion instruments have the same Hornbostel-Sachs classification? What classification(s) do they fall into?
5) How is the sound energy vibration in a drum different than from that of a string or wind instrument?

Answer (Click to Show Hidden Text)

1. The Hornbostel-Sachs system might call percussion instruments those in which a solid body or a 2d membrane produces the bulk of the sound. However, I think this can be a naive definition and should be considered in light of a few nuanced edge cases:
[list][*]A kazoo is a membranophone, but since it's not struck I don't think it should be considered percussion.
[*]However, the method of actuation shouldn't be the defining feature: a bowed glockenspiel is definitely percussion.
[*]A piano could either be percussion or string -- I don't know where to fall on this one and a case could be made either way.[/list]

2. Tighten the drum head to raise the pitch; loosen to lower.

3. [Assuming you mean volume as in loudness, not volume as in "amount of space"]: Hit with less energy for a less volume and more energy for more volume. With the same sticks/beaters, this is usually translated as "faster stick motion is louder", but switching to heavier sticks can also increase volume (up to a point).

4. Almost all fall into idiophone and membranophone. If we consider piano to be percussion, piano is a chordophone. Amplified percussion can also be considered an electrophone.

5. I'm not sure I understand the question -- is it asking where the vibrational energy is contained? If so, in a drum it's contained in the drum head(s), as opposed to the strings of a string instrument or the air in a wind instrument. Is it asking about the frequencies that are present? Wind and string instruments tend to follow the harmonic series after the fundamental (or at least follow close to it), while idiophones and membranophones have highly variable frequencies and modes of vibration.

[olivia.m19]

1) How is the classification of percussion instruments defined? (what makes an instrument a percussion instrument?)
2) How do you change the pitch of a drum?
3) How do you change the volume of a drum?
4) Do all percussion instruments have the same Hornbostel-Sachs classification? What classification(s) do they fall into?
5) How is the sound energy vibration in a drum different than from that of a string or wind instrument?

Answer (Click to Show Hidden Text)

1. The Hornbostel-Sachs system might call percussion instruments those in which a solid body or a 2d membrane produces the bulk of the sound. However, I think this can be a naive definition and should be considered in light of a few nuanced edge cases:
[list][*]A kazoo is a membranophone, but since it's not struck I don't think it should be considered percussion.
[*]However, the method of actuation shouldn't be the defining feature: a bowed glockenspiel is definitely percussion.
[*]A piano could either be percussion or string -- I don't know where to fall on this one and a case could be made either way.[/list]

2. Tighten the drum head to raise the pitch; loosen to lower.

3. [Assuming you mean volume as in loudness, not volume as in "amount of space"]: Hit with less energy for a less volume and more energy for more volume. With the same sticks/beaters, this is usually translated as "faster stick motion is louder", but switching to heavier sticks can also increase volume (up to a point).

4. Almost all fall into idiophone and membranophone. If we consider piano to be percussion, piano is a chordophone. Amplified percussion can also be considered an electrophone.

5. I'm not sure I understand the question -- is it asking where the vibrational energy is contained? If so, in a drum it's contained in the drum head(s), as opposed to the strings of a string instrument or the air in a wind instrument. Is it asking about the frequencies that are present? Wind and string instruments tend to follow the harmonic series after the fundamental (or at least follow close to it), while idiophones and membranophones have highly variable frequencies and modes of vibration.

yup you're right! sorry that last one was worded badly, but go ahead

[mjcox2000]

John is asked to play a C on his trumpet. He does so, but a tuner measures him as being 200 cents flat. What mistake did he make and how does he correct this error?

Is an alto saxophone player prone to make this same error? A flute player? A marimba player? An english horn player? For each of those instruments, why or why not, and how far out of tune are the players likely to be?

[wec01]

John is asked to play a C on his trumpet. He does so, but a tuner measures him as being 200 cents flat. What mistake did he make and how does he correct this error?

Is an alto saxophone player prone to make this same error? A flute player? A marimba player? An english horn player? For each of those instruments, why or why not, and how far out of tune are the players likely to be?

Answers (Click to Show Hidden Text)

I believe this is because a trumpet's 'C' is not the same as a concert C, which the tuner is looking for.

The flute (and the marimba?) would not have this error since they play at concert pitch, however the alto saxophone would appear 300 cents sharp, and the english horn would appear 500 cents sharp since they would play a concert E flat and F, respectively.

[mjcox2000]

John is asked to play a C on his trumpet. He does so, but a tuner measures him as being 200 cents flat. What mistake did he make and how does he correct this error?

Is an alto saxophone player prone to make this same error? A flute player? A marimba player? An english horn player? For each of those instruments, why or why not, and how far out of tune are the players likely to be?

Answers (Click to Show Hidden Text)

I believe this is because a trumpet's 'C' is not the same as a concert C, which the tuner is looking for.

The flute (and the marimba?) would not have this error since they play at concert pitch, however the alto saxophone would appear 300 cents sharp, and the english horn would appear 500 cents sharp since they would play a concert E flat and F, respectively.

That’s right! Your turn.

[wec01]

1) What is the spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear called?
2) What fluid is this organ filled with?
3) What bones carry sound waves from the tympanic membrane to this organ?

[mjcox2000]

1) What is the spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear called?
2) What fluid is this organ filled with?
3) What bones carry sound waves from the tympanic membrane to this organ?

Answer (Click to Show Hidden Text)

1. Cochlea
2. Perilymph and endolymph
3. Malleus, Incus, Stapes

[wec01]

1) What is the spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear called?
2) What fluid is this organ filled with?
3) What bones carry sound waves from the tympanic membrane to this organ?

Answer (Click to Show Hidden Text)

1. Cochlea
2. Perilymph and endolymph
3. Malleus, Incus, Stapes

Yep, your turn

[mjcox2000]

A percussionist strikes a chime bar and measures some of its resonant frequencies:
Fundamental: 80 Hz
1st overtone: 220 Hz
2nd: 430 Hz
3rd: 715 Hz
4th: 1070 Hz
5th: 1500 Hz

What note would the ear most likely hear based on this series of overtones? What overtones contribute the most to the perception of this note?