AMATH 390Mathematics and Music
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Mathematics
- Subject
- Applied Mathematics
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 1 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
An introduction to some of the deep connections between mathematics and music. Topics covered include acoustics, including pitch and harmonics, basic Fourier analysis, the mathematics behind the differing pitch and timbre of string, wind and percussion instruments, scales and temperaments, digital music, musical synthesis.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Students must be in level 3A
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Reviewed on UW Flow
100% liked it63% easy50% useful
From 5 ratings and 3 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
It is a fun course that highlights the math behind music, acoustics, and sampling. This could be more difficult at the start if ODEs/PDEs are unfamiliar, but beyond the first unit on standing waves and resonance, the math is very simple. Most of the music side I was hoping to learn more about was also not new to me given my music and theory background. I loved the idea of this course, but it wasn't that novel for me and did not learn a whole lot. This is a fun course if you want to learn more about the mathematical side of music and apply some of your math skills to some nonstandard problems.
Jul 2019 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
This course on the surface sounded fun, but was taught in a mostly unengaging way. I enjoyed the concepts on scales and instruments as well as looking at sound spectrograms on a computer, but class was always boring. The professor didn't have proper notes and sometimes switched to the black board to go through a long proof that was hard to follow. The assignments were super easy as well as the tests. The final project was fun because it was open ended, but I wish class was more enjoyable
Mar 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Interesting topics on music. Biweekly assignments and a final group project essay.
Dec 2020 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
13 posts and comments in 11 threads mention AMATH 390, March 2016 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2020
anyone taking amath 390 this fall? 3 points, 1 comment
u/crystal_bones: “i'll make a fb group and we can buy 2 narrow tubes together as specified in the welcome email:)”
Hardest math courses at Waterloo? 16 points, 16 comments
u/Laeriana: “… HATED going to class, also struggled with forgetting key concepts in my solving algorithms) AMATH 390 (do NOT take this course if you don't have enough calc knowledge to back you up, it was a REALLY rough go) Physics-Based MATH 137 (when you don't take physics in high school, …”
Fall 2019
“Also, how does a Fail effect my transcript? Are there certain things I can’t declare? And suppose I do have to take math 135 again, will they use first mark to calculate my GPA or my second mark?”
u/Laeriana: “Math major here! Feeling like you haven’t done well enough is very scary and frustrating, but you are not alone. \\hugs\\ I’ll do my best to respond here. LONG REPLY INCOMING... 1. …”
u/Laeriana: “… This was further solidified when I WD’ed out of both AMATH 250 and AMATH 390 later in my academic career. AMATH and me were not meant to be. …”
Spring 2018
Any math elective recommendations? 3 points, 7 comments
u/SolarSystemSuperStar: “… For reference, here are the courses I have taken/will take as of Fall 2018: MATH 135/136/137/138/235/237/249 CS 135/116 STAT 230/231 AMATH 331/332/390 PMATH 330/340/347 CO 250/330/342/353/456”
Question regarding AMATH 390 2 points, 1 comment
u/SolarSystemSuperStar: “Seeing this post, it appears as though AMATH 390 has only been offered once before (Fall 2016). Has anyone taken it back then, and if you have, how was it?”
u/Laeriana: “To clarify from a previous thread, this Fall's offering of AMATH 390 will be only the THIRD time ever that the course has been offered. Previous offerings have been in Fall '16 and '14 respectively. …”
Winter 2018
AMATH/PHYS/PMATH courses with no final exam, or that are project/assignment oriented? 2 points, 4 comments
u/maractite: “Only courses I've taken with no final whatsoever are AMATH 390 (mathematics and music: assignments, three midterm-type tests, and a final project; offered this coming fall iirc) and PHYS 375 (Stars: assignments, midterm, quizzes, and final project, though it's only offered in …”
Fall 2017
PSA: UWCourseLinker back up, disabled by default, call with [[course code]] 39 points, 31 comments
u/RayDWatson: “Testing all course codes 1/61: [[ACC604]] [[ACC605]] [[ACC606]] [[ACC607]] [[ACC608]] [[ACC609]] [[ACC610]] [[ACC611]] [[ACC620]] [[ACC621]] [[ACC622]] [[ACC623]] [[ACC624]] [[ACC625]] [[ACC626]] …”
u/RayDWatson: “… [[AMATH351]] [[AMATH353]] [[AMATH361]] [[AMATH373]] [[AMATH382]] [[AMATH383]] [[AMATH390]] [[AMATH391]] [[AMATH431]] [[AMATH432]] [[AMATH433]] [[AMATH442]] [[AMATH444]] [[AMATH447]] [[AMATH451]] [[AMATH453]] [[AMATH455]] [[AMATH456]] [[AMATH463]] [[AMATH473]] [[AMATH475]] …”
u/UWCourseLinker: “… Modelling of Cellular Systems AMATH 383 - Introduction to Mathematical Biology AMATH 390 - Mathematics and Music AMATH 391 - From Fourier to Wavelets AMATH 431 - Measure and Integration AMATH 432 - Functional Analysis AMATH 433 - Differential Geometry AMATH 442 - Computational …”
Winter 2017
Best AMATH/Physics Courses? 2 points, 7 comments
“These are two fields I think I might take courses in the next few terms so I was wondering if there were any can't-miss courses in either of these two areas?”
u/goosling: “If you're interested in music/acoustics, I really enjoyed AMATH 390!”
Fall 2016
Anyone taken CS489 with Richard Mann? 9 points, 8 comments
“Thinking of doing the Computational Audio course offered this Winter. Anyone take it before? Did you like it? Relative difficulty?”
u/thetdotbearr: “Couldn't take it last winter because co-op. Can't take it this winter because graduating. I do music production as a hobby, this shit has been my dream course for a while. I cry evrytim ;-;”
u/Huex3: “CS489 seems like it focuses more on the audio processing aspect. AMATH390 (offered right now) may be up your alley covering the same topics, but more formally than with computational methods.”
Spring 2016
Are there any "bird" or "for interest" math courses. 0 points, 13 comments
“Need some courses to fill out, and I fuckin hate other faculties, they don't provide me anything useful.”
u/roflcopters125: “Amath 390 - The Mathematics of Music Doesn't get anymore interesting than that.”
Winter 2016
Has anyone taken AMATH 390? 2 points, 3 comments
u/DiegoFuego14: “How is it? I don't mind the difficulty or workload of a course I just want to know if it is interesting and fun. Thank you.”
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