The Tufts Music Engineering program offers students a unique interdisciplinary experience at the intersection of music, design and technology. Students can participate in the program by taking individual courses, by engaging in research projects, and/or by pursuing the Music Engineering Minor.
The Tufts Music Engineering program is supported by the Department of Music in the School of Arts & Sciences; the Departments of Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering in the School of Engineering; and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts.
It is jointly administered by the School of Engineering and the School of Arts & Sciences. The Co-Directors of the Music Engineering program are Paul Lehrman and Chris Rogers.
Courses that comprise the Music Engineering program include music theory and composition, music technology, acoustic and electronic instrument design, music recording and production, analog and digital electronics, computer programming, fluid mechanics, acoustics, vibration, automation, materials engineering, and sound sculpture.
How did we get started and who has supported us?
The Music Engineering program was originally launched in 1998 as the Musical Instrument Engineering program and was funded in part by Steinway & Sons and Selmer Instruments, with an emphasis on research in acoustic musical instrument design and manufacture. In 2011, the program was expanded to include two other tracks: Music Recording and Production, and Electronic Instrument Design. Steinway & Sons provided funding for the program again in 2011, specifically supporting undergraduate research projects in music engineering. From 2014 to 2016, Avedis Zildjian. Inc. provided funding for research projects. In 2018 and 2019 funding was received from QRS Inc.
The following companies have provided support to the Music Engineering program at Tufts through research grants, internships, or equipment. Robert A. Lehrman A64 has also supported the program with generous annual donations.
