***New Section. Video coming soon*** 

Course Description:

Engineers shape how music is made and heard, from the mechanics and design of instruments to the electronics that capture and transform sound. In this course, you will explore the intersection of mechanics, electronics, and creativity by designing and building a musical mechanism or instrument. Using the design-build-test framework, you will learn how to
transform sound into a tangible engineering project that integrates structure, motion, rhythm, and basic acoustics. By the end of the section, you will be able to:

• Explain and justify design decisions and technical results using ethical and responsible communication

• Articulate and execute the design process to create a functional music-producing device

• Apply practical engineering skills spanning several engineering fields including CAD, prototyping, electronics and actuation integration, and programming microcontrollers

• Design, build, and test a musical mechanism capable of recreating a short tune

Term Project:

Design and fabricate a mechanical or electromechanical musical instrument capable of playing a short tune of your choosing

Labs:  

Designing systems in CAD; prototyping, fabrication, and assembly techniques; electronics and actuator integration; programming microcontrollers for sequence and rhythm; exploring acoustics and sound generation; and testing and evaluating performance against intended musical outcomes