MUSIC ENGINEERING
P
ROGRAM AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY


Since the Musical Instrument Engineering Program was launched in 1998, it has become a diverse and exciting area of academic activity. Funded in part by Steinway & Sons and Selmer Instruments, the project has been propelled by a collaboration of the Music Department and Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Departments at Tufts University. Further, the project has brought together professors and students whose specialties include Fluid Mechanics, Acoustics, Vibrations, Automation, Material Engineering, and Music Composition. At the present time, the project includes both pure research studying the mechanical behavior of musical instruments and a curriculum which includes a minor and a concentration certificate in Musical Instrument Engineering.

Included in this web page is both an overview of the Musical Instrument Engineering project, as well as links to specific research projects, relevant literature, and participating departments. As research projects are in various stages of development, not all of them have completed web pages associated with them. Further, research projects are ongoing, and related web pages are continually updated as new data is processed.
 

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Contact: Erich Tisch

Chris Rogers

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