tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810592925338095630.post9131506813733779556..comments2021-06-10T10:33:31.583-04:00Comments on Music Therapy: Walls and SoundLyle Sanford, RMThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312150272934828223noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810592925338095630.post-47098000962521999092010-06-25T08:32:47.481-04:002010-06-25T08:32:47.481-04:00Jonathan - Great info. Thanks. Hadn't realized...Jonathan - Great info. Thanks. Hadn't realized the directionality of strings.Lyle Sanford, RMThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312150272934828223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810592925338095630.post-34359460792617490902010-06-25T05:18:48.586-04:002010-06-25T05:18:48.586-04:00I've been in one of these anechoic chambers th...I've been in one of these anechoic chambers they use for the acoustic testing of telephones, where the walls in all directions have foam padding designed to completely absorb all sound.<br /><br />In one of these places, if somebody turns away from you and speaks, even though they are only 3 feet away from you (these chambers aren't very large), their voice is barely audible. The voice produces sound which is very directional, and if you don't happen to be on the direct path, you rely almost entirely on reflections off the surroundings to hear what other people are saying.<br /><br />The same applies of course to musical instruments. The horn is obvious, but it is surprising how directional sound can be from woodwind instruments as well. And even stringed instruments are directional to some extent - that is why the first violins are placed to the conductor's left in an orchestra, so that with the angle of their instruments, their sound is projected forward towards the audience.<br /><br />For this reason, the acoustic architecture of concert halls is a highly mathematical and scientific endeavour these days, so that the sound is available equally (as far as possible) to everybody in the audience.Jonathan Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00527063732905729010noreply@blogger.com