How do we hear music?

Question 1

1st: sensation

Answer 1

ears detect auditory stimuli

Question 2

2nd: perception

Answer 2

brain organizes, interprets this information

• sees all the “parts” of a sound as a “whole” = Gestalt principle

Question 3

what are the 3 main “parts” of a sound

Answer 3

1) pitch
2) loudness
3) timbre

Question 4

1) what is pitch

Answer 4

• how low or high the sound is on a musical scale
• determined by frequency (measured in Hz)
• used when forming a melody
• used when forming harmony
• used when forming a key

Question 5

define frequency

Answer 5

• number of cycles completed by a sound wave in one second
• reported in hertz (Hz)

Question 6

define melody

Answer 6

• group of notes of various pitches played one after another
• together form a tune

Question 7

define harmony

Answer 7

• consisted, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of musical parts
• especially when blending into chords

Question 8

define key

Answer 8

group of pitches, or scale, that forms the basis of a music composition (in classical, western country, etc.)

Question 9

what is relative pitch

Answer 9

being able to recreate notes with help (reference)

• example singing happy birthday at a restaurant

Question 10

what is absolute pitch

Answer 10

PERFECT PITCH

being able to create notes with no help (reference)

• fun fact: 1/10 000 people are born with this

Question 11

both relative and absolute pitch…

Answer 11

• processing related to long-term memory formation

Question 12

how much can the human ear hear?

Answer 12

20 Hz to 20 000 Hz

Question 13

how much can dolphins hear?

Answer 13

up to 100 000 Hz

Question 14

what is presbyacusis

Answer 14

loss of high pitch hearing

Question 15

2) what is loudness

Answer 15

• volume of sound
• determined by height of sound wave (amplitude + measured in decibels ‘dB’)

Question 16

what are some examples of loudness

Answer 16

• 90 dB (max 8hr/day) = lawn mower, hair dryer
• 100 dB (max 2hr/day) = chain saw
• 140 dB (no exposure advised) = plane take-off, gunshot blast

Question 17

how can hearing loss occur

Answer 17

• can occur due to senescence (term for aging)
• can occur due to repeated exposure to loud noise
• presbyacusis (gradual hearing loss)

Question 18

what 2 things are related to inner ear damage

Answer 18

1) accelerated presbyacusis
2) loudness recruitment (sound sometimes faint/other times a blast)

Question 19

3) what is timbre

Answer 19

• distinct quality of sound
• tuning fork - pure sound ; only one frequency
• allows us to distinguish sounds from each other of the same pitch and loudness