EXPERIMENTAL AND COMPUTATIONAL EVALUATION OF ACOUSTICAL PERFORMANCE OF MULTIPURPOSE MUSIC CLASSROOMS

Abstract

The efficiency of education in schools is directly related to the quality of communication in classrooms. One of the crucial factors that determines the educational quality in schools is the acoustical performance of the classrooms. Considering the significance of communication in educational spaces, music education is one of the most auditory-related field of education due to its dependence on the ability to hear. The acoustic properties and performance of spaces designated to serve as music classrooms should be specific to the functions of music education. Using the music classroom as a multifunctional space for the teaching of music theory and practicing musical instruments is an application that is frequently practiced in schools. However, the requirements for lectures and practice differ in terms of room acoustics. Therefore, providing function-specific acoustic performance characteristics in multipurpose music classrooms is important for the quality of education. This study investigates the acoustical performance of three multipurpose music classrooms of different schools by experimental and computational methods. The schools are located on the campus of an educational institute in Kayseri. Prior to the experimental and computational studies, the dimensions and spatial organization of classrooms and the properties of building elements and materials are defined in detail. At the experimental stage of the study, measurements are performed to evaluate the background noise levels of the classrooms by comparing the results with NC (noise criterion) curves. Impulse response measurements are conducted in the rooms in orderto derive certain acoustic parameters related to the acoustical performance of multipurpose music classrooms. In the computational studies, three-dimensional models of the classrooms are generated and these models are simulated through Odeon room acoustics software. The compatibility of the acoustical simulations is inspected by comparing the simulation results with the measurement results of room acoustic parameters and the simulation models are calibrated. The data obtained from the studies are analyzed and the acoustical performance of the classrooms are evaluated by comparing the results with reference parameter values for educational institutions defined in the regulations and literature. In order to assess the acoustical problems in multipurpose music classrooms, an identification procedure is developed. The root causes of the acoustical problems are locally diagnosed in the classrooms. According to the findings acquired from the identification studies, solution proposals are discussed to improve the acoustical performances of the classrooms.