Evaluation of reverberation time and sound perception in music teaching rooms at CAC/UFPE

Abstract

The study of acoustics is essential in many environments, especially when it comes to a space dedicated to the practice and teaching of music. From this perspective, it is essential that the environment presents a good acoustic performance, in order to provide a pleasant experience for users, in addition to issues related to thermal, lighting, ergonomics and accessibility. To adjust the acoustic efficiency of classrooms at the Department of Music at the Center for Arts and Communication at the Federal University of Pernambuco (DMus/CAC/UFPE in Portuguese), parameters such as reverberation time (tr) and bass ratio (BR), combined with research with users, through interviews and sessions. Reverberation time is one of the main criteria for evaluating indoor acoustics, and bass ratio looks at the balance between a room's bass compensation and midrange frequencies. The parameters were estimated theoretically, by calculating the tr and the BR from the absorption coefficients of the surfaces. By analyzing DMus rooms 09 and 13, it was possible to corroborate what had been reported in interviews and classes by users, as well as to understand their expectations regarding the built environment. The results obtained indicated that the DMus classrooms have a suboptimal acoustic performance, which affects the quality of the users' experience, impairing learning, and musical practice. It is necessary to consider the theme in the future, to base solutions that improve the acoustics of the rooms, aiming to provide a more pleasant and productive experience for users.