Calling all Math/Computer geeks!
Shannon (aka fluti31415) has set up a blog which we intend to use as a book group discussion forum: http://godelescherbach.blogspot.com/
If you’re at all interested, check it out, and sign up.
I’m itchin’ to get started, and I’ve been waiting (patiently!) for folks to get a copy of the book.
This should be fun - hope to see some of you there!
Hi Fyfer, I have been toying with writing a book on the physics of the flute. There is not really a good book that both goes through the detailed higher math and at the same time tells what changes with the flute as a result of change of some physical property such as belling like a clarnett, hole size, taper of the bore, et cetera. Trouble is, I would love to do it but it would be strictly a lobor of love. Still it should be done and I am the person to do it. I started designing resonate cavities in 1957 when inventing masers (the long wavelength lasers, search Nelson McAvoy in google). I have been designing resonate cavities ever sense.
I went to your blog but do not understand the blog format and did not know how to log in, or anything else. I’ll try again, and then see if that is the format for those who wish to know how the flute works.
Nelson
Hey Nelson, I think that’s a damm good idea. I did my thesis on the (acoustical) cylindrical cavity resonator (3 wave equations) and then designed an antipersonnel radar (EM) from that…and that was that. I’ve never been able to get back to it (and it looks like I’ll never retire either) I’ve yet to find a clear method of how to examine different cavity shapes (in my “spare” time) and the transmission line approach leaves me cold.
Hi Nelson – I wish you well on your book. I’ll buy a copy!
AFA the blog format, Shannon (fluti31415) started it (just to get this very OT topic out of C&F), but it’s not too tough. Basically, you have two options: you can post anonymously, just type whatever you want, and enter a username to be displayed; or you can sign up with blogspot. I did that, and it thinks you want to start a blog, so after you enter a username/password, it asks you for the name of the blog you want to start. I cancelled after that, and, thinking I didn’t register, I tried again, but found out that my username/password was indeed registered, so that’s what I’m using.
However, you should actually start a blog for flute physics. I’d visit and post. I know something of musical instrument physics myself, and wish I had learned more. I went to college (the first time around) for Sound Recording Technology, where I took courses in the Acoustics of Music, among other things. If I had been more focused (and partyed less) I may have gone into grad school for Acoustics, or something along those lines.
I ended up getting a Math degree, and now I’m a computer programmer.
Anyway, my life story aside, give it another shot. I’d love to chat about that stuff.
Cheers,
Chris
Godel esher bach is a fabulous book and I hope you enjoy reading it. Make sure you carry a note pad and pencil though, to double check all those puzzles and equations. 
This will be my 4th time reading it, and I have all my notes from previous reads tucked in the book, and sketched in the margins. Why don’t you join our little side group, and re-read it yourself?
Nothing like a little lite summer reading … 