Instrument Design develops skills and competencies in the handling, maintenance and design and recording of musical instruments of different cultures. It does this by providing students with experience in a range of world musical instruments, their history and use in different cultures, the technical aspects of how instruments produce sound, musical instrument classification systems, and the design of new instruments with an emphasis on interactive digital instruments which produce sound through sampling and synthesis. The module covers aspects of organology, ethnomusicology and the branch of acoustics that is devoted to musical instrument design. The module involves students in the practical design and construction of musical instruments. It lays a foundation for musical acoustics. Students then learn how to apply this understanding to the creation of computer based interactive virtual instruments and music making systems towards the end of the module.