Small band rooms for large bands: Balancing loudness and musicality

Abstract

When band rooms are smaller than ideal for the ensembles they support, there are safety concerns due to loudness. In the case study presented, students have experienced excessive loudness and difficult ensemble conditions due to inadequate ceiling height, absorption, and volume. This paper will discuss the strategies explored to increase acoustic volume to the extent possible within floorplate boundaries while finishing the space with a combination of absorption and diffusion. The goal of these interventions is to preserve ensemble and a sense of musicality to assure students and faculty they are working in a space designed for music rather than simply the control of loudness.