Using Sound And Music In Technology

This paper presents work aimed at adding the aspect of sound, and music, to technical demonstrations, presentations and projects. The focus of this work is to explore the mathematics and technology of sound at a basic level, to create a background for later experimentation. To enhance the apparent relevance of technology to everyday concerns, the human voice and musical instruments are employed as sources of sound. It is postulated that by stirring the senses, the imaginations and motivations of students and teachers can be aroused. In its basic form, the vehicle for exploring sound can be the simple transduction of sound with a simple electret microphone procured from Radio Shack and the display of the resulting waveform on an oscilloscope. There are a myriad of more complex applications for sound including all sorts of analog and digital processing. On the path to these explorations, the author and students became involved in the production of musical instruments from ordinary soda straws and ten-foot PVC pipes.