This talk will describe two ways that the experience of listening to music, both in practice and in theory, is related to mathematics. First we will explain the meaning of some strange square grids on the walls of a large practice room in von der Mehden Recital Hall. Then we will talk about a question famously posed by Mark Kac over 50 years ago: "Can you hear the shape of a drum?" The math involved in these topics involves complex numbers, modular arithmetic, and differential equations.

This is a follow-up to a math club talk on math and music at the end of last semester, but attendance at that talk is not necessary to understand this one.

Note: Free refreshments. The talk starts at 5:40.