9408776 Ballance This is a symposium focusing on the materials and processes used to manufacture musical instruments to be held at the 1994 Spring Meeting of the Materials Research Society. The Acoustical Society of America is co-sponsoring this symposium, which will be the first where materials scientists and musical acousticians will be brought together to discuss musical instruments. We are expecting much participation by professional instrument makers and artists and therefore hope to promote communication and collaboration between these four groups. Among the topics to be discussed at the symposium are (1) the affect the materials used to make an instrument has on the sound it produces, (2)the materials and manufacturing related problems that instrument makers have and what new materials and processes they are using, and (3) new or advanced materials for instruments or parts of instruments to achieve an improvement in sound quality or a reduction in price. A group of eminent scientists and instrument makers have been invited to contribute to the symposium and the symposium is being organized by a group that includes materials scientists, instrument makers and an acoustician. As this event is a first of its kind, the organizers feel that it will be a unique opportunity for students interested in this area to meet the foremost researchers and to hear them speak. This proposal will provide funding for the travel expenses of students. ***
