Course # / Title / Credit: AET 4230 Auditory Perception, Psychoacoustics, and Music Cognition. 3 hrs.

Instructor: Wesley A. Bulla, B.M., M.M.E., Ph.D.; Contacts: 460-6272, bullaw@mail.belmont.edu

Semester: Fall 2007; Class Location: MCREMS B25 (Massey Center R. E. Mulloy Studios room B25)

Meeting Time(s): MW 6:00-7:15 PM; Final Exam: Monday, December 10, 2007, 7:00-9:00 PM

Educational Objectives of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music: 1) To provide a personalized career-oriented and practical educational program in Music Business administration emphasizing the four themes of leadership, innovation, private enterprise, and entrepreneurship. 2) To equip students with the ability to communicate effectively, think critically, and make enlightened judgments about their environment. 3) To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of caring, Christian principles.

Course Description: Prerequisites: Nine (9) hours from any AET 3000. An in-depth study of auditory perception, psychoacoustics, music cognition, and auditory modeling as it relates to the process of audio engineering, sound recording, music, and sound production.

Learning Outcomes: (1) To provide students with basic knowledge of the mechanisms and known parameters of auditory cognition and auditory perceptual phenomena. (2) To link the mechanisms and known parameters of auditory cognition to the process of audio engineering, sound recording, music, and sound production. (3) Emphasis is placed on understanding and applying research methods that measure, test, and evaluate human response to auditory stimuli.

Performance Criteria: (1) Students will: identify the physical and neurobiological mechanisms of auditory processing and explain their significance; (2) define, interpret, and apply a technical language for the development of psychophysical research methods; (3) assess the parameters of perceptual auditory stimuli response through the application of critical listening skill; (4) demonstrate an understanding of psychophysical research methods through participation in a perceptual research project; and (5) synthesize course outcomes by creating a “journal-style” written report and an in-class “paper presentation” of empirical findings from a course-driven perceptual research project.

Honor Code: It is the responsibility of each student to abide by the Belmont University Honor Code. “In affirmation of the Belmont University Statement of Values, I pledge that I will not give or receive aid during examinations; I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work, in the preparation of reports, or in any other type of work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of my grade; I will not engage in any form of academic fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and letter of this Honor Pledge.”

Accommodation of Disabilities: In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University will provide reasonable accommodation of all medically documented disabilities.  If you have a disability and would like the university to provide reasonable accommodations of the disability during this course, please notify the Office of the Dean of Students located in Beaman Student Life Center (460-6407) as soon as possible.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Attendance: As per the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Class participation is expected; attendance and absence will be noted.

2. Materials: Readings will be provided. Additionally, students will be required to seek out readings related to topics of discussion as well as their assigned research topic.

3. Participation and Prepared assignments: Readings will be assigned and tested weekly. Students will replicate a psychophysical test designed to demonstrate and investigate a perceptual cognitive auditory phenomenon. Research topic and procedures will be assigned.

4. Testing: ALL assigned readings will be tested on a weekly basis. There will be a comprehensive mid-term and final exam.

5. Basis of grade evaluation: Grading scale as per the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Five (5) criteria will be used to determine performance (as % of 100):

1. Weekly lecture & readings tests: 30

2. Psychophysical test implementation & reports 30

3. Mid-term Exam 10

4. Final Exam 10

5. Attendance & Participation 20

100 points (%)

6. Class Schedule:

Week of: Topics

Aug. 27 The ear-brain mechanism.

HO: “The Ear and How it Works” and “The Auditory Brain”

Sept. 03 NO CLASS Labor Day

Sept. 10 The ear-brain mechanism (cont.)

Demo of cochlear tuning and critical bandwidth using auditory beats & masking.

HO: “The Ears are Analog”

Sept. 17 Seashore Test of Musical Aptitude

(pitch, loudness, rhythm, timbre, time, tonal memory)

Discussion of research design.

HO: AES paper (Virtual perception in 5.1 surround)

Sept. 24 Perceptual research design & project assignment.

Oct. 01 Auditory performance parameters and the cognitive auditory system.

Review for mid-term.

Oct. 8 MID-TERM EXAM

Oct. 10 NO CLASS FALL BREAK

Oct. 15 Real and virtual sound: applications to mixing.

Oct. 22 Real and virtual sound: applications to mixing.

Oct. 29 Real and virtual sound: applications to mixing.

Nov. 5 Field trip to an anechoic chamber.

Nov. 12 Presentation of research reports.

Nov. 21 NO CLASS Thanks Giving Break.

Dec. 03 Review for Final Exam

Dec. 10 FINAL EXAM (7:00-9:00 PM)