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Re: Physics

Author: Craig Matovich
Date: 2007-08-17 13:20

Interesting thread and discussion going here. Thanks.

Mike, you first asked how much real physics instruction musicians get.
I was not sure if you meant that in general or as part of a music curriculum but it got me reflecting on my own education along those lines.

I'd say I received a significant dose of 'science' going through public schools in Maryland in the late 60s and early 70s. A lot of my musical friends parents were scientists, doctors, engineers, etc., and the schools put a heavy emphasis on math and science.

My own son's exposure to that in his public schools was sadly, far less.

During college, I elected to take an acoustical physics lab class and certainly learned a lot that I still use both in my recording studio and in my oboe playing. Where I connect it directly to my reed making probably has most to do with knowledge of wave form propogation and the complex harmonic content in the oboe sound. I think it was a great class, very useful and mind opening for me. It nearly kept me from graduating as it turned out...

My academic advisor had approved it for a 2 credit music elective and later that turned out to be incorrect. I petitioned the academic dean, who as usual, saw the benefit of the choice and approved the substitution within the course requirements.

But now, we toil and gouge and shape and fold and it does not seem so scientific. We teach with words and by playing example, not in labs, and teachers use analogy and annectdotal 'evidence' and science gets dilluted.
And we struggle to convey ideas and fundamentals and language lets us down at times.

Fortunately for me, the good science guys or lucky trial and error guys made me a gouger and measuring devices for gouge thickness and I can rely on them with confidence.

I think from old conversations with Paul Covey he was very scientific in his approach to making oboes although I have no knowledge of his education in Physics. I say scientific because I've seen his charts of measurements and the raw data he collected for analysis that went into his oboe designs.

Personally, I think a lot about the mechanics of the reed and how the valve it is really operates. I would love to see a slow motion video of the reed working. Like seeing he humming bird's wings in flight, it would be very informative. I think statistically about reeds a lot to get away from dumb trial and error and into better predicted outcomes, beter good reed yields and better fine adjustments for a finished reed. I suppose my acoustical education underlies this but its predominately a math skill. I also contemple the vegetable matter I scrape on trying to make a piece of grass sing like an angel. So add some biology, math, physics, some philosophy concerning tone to the mix and you get....oboe soup. [toast]