Miskin Theatre Assignment

Assignment Cover Sheet

Assignment Reference:

BTEC Level 3 Diploma Music Technology

Brief IVd By: A Pettitt

Miskin Theatre Assignment

Title:

T2.2 Acoustics

Units:

Unit 1 Acoustics for Musicians (GC 1-4)

Timing within Course:

Yr 1, Term 2, 2015

Date Set:

23/03/15

PASSED: 27/02/15 /RETURNED

Miskin Theatre Assignment

Submission Deadlines:

17/04/15

Special Considerations/
Resources:

Independent study and time management is essential.

Access to internet required. All sequencing work must be available on the software
provided in your workspaces. All uploads must be tagged.

Miskin Theatre Assignment

Tutors in charge of Assignment:

Matt Power

Miskin Theatre Assignment

1st Year Level 3 Diploma Music Technology TERM 2

Producer in charge of Assignment: Matt Power

Miskin Theatre Assignment

Relevant Departmental Notes: Assessment throughout this course is essentially formative, company members can re-visit criteria to arrive at their final
assessment grades.
Evidence: This will be in the form of blogs/logs, observed participation, director observation, video recordings and research notes
Grading Criteria: Pass, Merit or Distinction are attainable.
English and Maths: This project will include functional skills in English and Maths. Please bear in mind your industry requires eloquent

Miskin Theatre Assignment

use of English and accurate use of figures, to which end, the continuing development of these skills are firmly embedded inside all your work.
Note on copyright and plagiarism: This process will require independent research. Copying from the internet and additional sources is not appropriate
and violates copyright and will be classed as plagiarism unless fully annotated and credited. You must make your work your own. We need to see that
you have an understanding of the areas that you have researched. Copying work directly from ANY source will not be tolerated. If you quote ANY

Miskin Theatre Assignment

existing material you must put it in quotation marks and in brackets, attribute the source / author. For example: Copying is cheating (Matt Power,
2015, Miskin Theatre)

On completion of this project you should:

Miskin Theatre Assignment

Unit 1 Acoustics For Musicians

1. Know the physics of sound.
2. Know the principles of musical instruments.
3. Know the mechanisms of human hearing.
4. Be able to adapt the acoustic characteristics of a space to suit a specific audio application.

Miskin Theatre Assignment

Grading Criteria: Pass, Merit and Distinction.

The Brief in Detail
Acoustics - An introduction to the physics of sound

Miskin Theatre Assignment

It is vital for any Music Technologist to have a good understanding of the principles of sound theory and acknowledge its interrelation with
recording principles and synthesis. You will have learnt about the various parallels and special relationships between aspects of acoustics
and the application of this theory to real world scenarios.
Scenario: You have been asked to write a number of articles for a magazine for home music producers. The articles must explain how
amateur producers must understand the physics of sound to get the best from their recordings (and any tutorials they can perform

Miskin Theatre Assignment

themselves). They will also need to know how musical instruments work, and how human hearing effects their work. Another article should
allow amateurs to adapt existing spaces
TASKS

Miskin Theatre Assignment

1. Produce an article that defines/explains/assesses the basics of sound, making special reference to the Logic tutorials on Beats,
Phase, Harmonics and Envelope. (U1 GC1)
2. Expand on the first task by extending the article to discuss (illustrate/explain/assess) how musical instruments work, focusing on one
instrument from each of the following families: wind; string; percussion. (U1 GC2)

Miskin Theatre Assignment

3. In a separate article illustrate/explain/assess how the mechanisms of human hearing can be affected by our work as a music
technologist, giving detail on psychoacoustics and the parts of the ear. (U1 GC3)
4. Present a design, with justification, that adapts the characteristics of a specific space so as to become a recording studio or music
venue with appropriate sound quality. Include dimensions, materials, and reference to RT60 and standing waves. (U1 GC4).

Miskin Theatre Assignment

Evidence: A two-part article on a) the physics of sound, and b) how musical instruments work. A separate article on human
hearing, and a guide to adapting the acoustics of a space for a specific purpose. These must be in an appropriate format that can
be uploaded to Scribd and linked to Tumblr.
Hand In deadline: 17/04/15

Miskin Theatre Assignment

Miskin Theatre Grading Criteria Sheet (Please see your brief)

Qualification: Level 3 Diploma in Music Tech

Name:

Project:

Unit Title: 1 Acoustics For Musicians

Miskin Theatre Assignment

To achieve a pass grade the

evidence must show the learner is
able to:

To achieve a merit grade the

evidence must show the learner is
able to:

To achieve a distinction grade the evidence

must show the learner is able to:

P1 define the physics of sound

M1 explain the physics of sound

D1 assess the physics of sound

Criteria: 1-4
P2 define the principles of musical
instruments
P3 define the mechanisms of human
hearing
P4 adapt the acoustic characteristics
of a chosen space to suit a specific
music application with assistance

Initials: MP
M2 explain the principles of musical
instruments
M3 explain the mechanisms of human
hearing
M4 adapt the acoustic characteristics
of a chosen space to suit a specific
music application with only occasional
assistance

I.V.:
D2 assess how the principles of musical
instruments affect sound production
D3 assess the mechanisms of human hearing
D4 independently adapt the acoustic characteristics
of a chosen space to suit a specific music
application to near professional expectations

Evidence

Date:

Grade
achieved
so far