ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by summarizing the key principles of acoustics and psychoacoustics, and their applications in a digital context. It then explores the range of sound from silence to noise and asks to what extent any sound may be musical. It discusses the ways in which musical structures are perceived. It goes on to discuss the key components of music: pitch and tuning; duration; timbre/spectrum; harmonicity/inharmonicity; rhythm and beat. In particular, it examines how each of these is treated by computer technology and how musicians may understand such perceptual and subjective ideas within its more objective framework. It includes comments on exploring sound from the case study musicians. It offers some critical questions as food for thought. It provides three creative projects for practical work in class, and a list of recommended further readings and suggested listening.
