Picture "vibrating string on a Lowden acoustic guitar" courtesy of Dr H A K Wright

NOTE: This will be a talk where the speaker presents remotely with guests able to view either at ARU, in the good company of others with similar interests or, if they prefer, on their own screens.

Musical instruments have been an integral part of human culture for at least 60,000 years. Throughout their history they have evolved in a great variety of sizes, shapes and sound qualities that reflected the everchanging requirements of their players. In this talk Dr Pavlidou will describe the most important parameters, as we understand them today, that affect the quality of the sound produced in stringed, wind and percussion instruments. Experimental techniques used in musical acoustics research will also be discussed, together with some of the still unanswered questions.

Dr Pavlidou studied Physics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Musical Harmony at Orfeio Conservatoire of Athens. She started her career as a teacher of physics and music at the Experimental Music High School of Pallini, Greece. She subsequently came to the UK and completed her PhD at Cardiff University, on the acoustics of the classical guitar. Her personal journey brought her back to the UK, where she became a science teacher, a head of physics and finally an outreach officer at the University of Birmingham. In 2020, Dr Pavlidou established "Galileo's Voyage", a science education company that specialises in physics and astronomy and supports science & mathematics teaching and learning, from primary and secondary schools to early university years. Dr Pavlidou is a STEM ambassador and has served as a member of the Institute of Physics.

Refreshments will be available from 30 minutes before the advertised start time.

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