Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
*This listing is for students who are interested in attending the Acoustics and Sound Waves class only. If you have already enrolled your student in the Epic Day for 5th-8th Graders, then there is no need to purchase this option.
Overview
In this class, students will explore what sound is and how it works, using music, technology, and hands-on experiments. We will learn how sound waves behave and how they shape the music and sounds we hear every day. Students will use professional music software to visualize, create, and manipulate sound while building a strong foundation in audio science.
Topics we will explore include:
What sound is and how sound waves work
Waveforms, amplitude (loudness), and frequency (pitch)
Phase, DC offset, and how waves combine or cancel each other
Fundamentals, harmonics, partials, and overtones
The harmonic series and how harmony works
Side beats and how pitch and rhythm connect
Sine waves vs. complex waves
Noise and texture
Transients, decay, and ADSR envelopes
Timbre (what makes sounds sound different from each other)
Students will primarily work with Cubase and the synthesizer Serum during class time. For homework and independent practice, students will use Vital, a powerful free synthesizer that allows them to continue learning at home.
This class also introduces applied mathematics and physics concepts connected directly to sound and music. While this course does not replace a full math class or focus on formal proofs, students will encounter real-world math ideas that show how numbers, patterns, and ratios shape sound. These concepts are designed to spark curiosity and excitement about math and physics by showing how they are used in creative and practical ways.
Class Expectations
*By signing your student up for this class, you consent to allowing your child to use the internet and a laptop while in the classroom. Students will be monitored by a teacher during the entire instruction period. Families involved in this class must agree to a computers and internet use code of conduct agreement so that they know there is an expectation to act responsibly on the computers during instruction at PPS.
*Students in this class must bring their own laptop that will be put aside in a cubby until brought home that same day after school. If you need to borrow one, please make plans with PPS prior to the class start date.
Timeline
This class begins January 12th, 2026 and runs until April 27, 2026 . This class runs every Monday from 930am-1020am with a class break (no school) the week of March 23rd for a total of 14 classes.
*This listing is for students who are interested in attending the Acoustics and Sound Waves class only. If you have already enrolled your student in the Epic Day for 5th-8th Graders, then there is no need to purchase this option.
Overview
In this class, students will explore what sound is and how it works, using music, technology, and hands-on experiments. We will learn how sound waves behave and how they shape the music and sounds we hear every day. Students will use professional music software to visualize, create, and manipulate sound while building a strong foundation in audio science.
Topics we will explore include:
What sound is and how sound waves work
Waveforms, amplitude (loudness), and frequency (pitch)
Phase, DC offset, and how waves combine or cancel each other
Fundamentals, harmonics, partials, and overtones
The harmonic series and how harmony works
Side beats and how pitch and rhythm connect
Sine waves vs. complex waves
Noise and texture
Transients, decay, and ADSR envelopes
Timbre (what makes sounds sound different from each other)
Students will primarily work with Cubase and the synthesizer Serum during class time. For homework and independent practice, students will use Vital, a powerful free synthesizer that allows them to continue learning at home.
This class also introduces applied mathematics and physics concepts connected directly to sound and music. While this course does not replace a full math class or focus on formal proofs, students will encounter real-world math ideas that show how numbers, patterns, and ratios shape sound. These concepts are designed to spark curiosity and excitement about math and physics by showing how they are used in creative and practical ways.
Class Expectations
*By signing your student up for this class, you consent to allowing your child to use the internet and a laptop while in the classroom. Students will be monitored by a teacher during the entire instruction period. Families involved in this class must agree to a computers and internet use code of conduct agreement so that they know there is an expectation to act responsibly on the computers during instruction at PPS.
*Students in this class must bring their own laptop that will be put aside in a cubby until brought home that same day after school. If you need to borrow one, please make plans with PPS prior to the class start date.
Timeline
This class begins January 12th, 2026 and runs until April 27, 2026 . This class runs every Monday from 930am-1020am with a class break (no school) the week of March 23rd for a total of 14 classes.