Miskin Theatre Assignment

Assignment Cover Sheet

Assignment Reference:

BTEC Level 3 Diploma Music Technology

Brief IVd By: A Pettitt

Title:

T2.2 Acoustics

PASSED: 27/02/15 /RETURNED

Units:

Unit 1 Acoustics for Musicians (GC 1-4)

Timing within Course:

Yr 1, Term 2, 2015

Date Set:

23/03/15

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.

Tutors in charge of Assignment:

Btec Level 3 Diploma Music Technology

Matt Power

Miskin Theatre Assignment

1st Year Level 3 Diploma Music Technology TERM 2
Producer in charge of Assignment: Matt Power
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
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
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:

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.
Grading Criteria: Pass, Merit and Distinction.

Btec Level 3 Diploma Music Technology

Miskin Theatre Assignment

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

Btec Level 3 Diploma Music Technology

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

Criteria: 1-4

Initials: MP

I.V.:

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

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

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

D2 assess how the principles of musical instruments

affect sound production
D3 assess the mechanisms of human hearing

Btec Level 3 Diploma Music Technology

D4 independently adapt the acoustic characteristics

of a chosen space to suit a specific music
application to near professional expectations

Date:

Evidence

Grade
achieved
so far