Using music to motivate learning mathematics in acoustics courses

Mathematics often intimidates students, especially if they feel unprepared for the math level in the course. However, when they see how math and music are intimately related, their attitude often changes. Many fundamental aspects of music are described by math. These include note frequencies, chords and scales, consonance and dissonance, and instrument tuning. The reactions to music of consonance and dissonance are related to the relative ratios of the notes in a chord or note sequence in a piece. The connection between music and math forms the basis for designing instruments that play the music. Instruments must be designed to replicate the note frequencies, while their geometry allows them to be being playable by humans. Mathematics is at the heart of instrument design. I will suggest ways to present these concepts to students for their greater appreciation of how acoustics and math are related.