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Course Information

Here you will find the info on the current classes taught at (CCM)2 electronic music studios. Some courses are offered continuously every year, while others once in two years. Click on the class title (or section names/class call numbers for the courses spanning over several quarters) to see the latest syllabus.

Introduction to Electronic Music (offered three quarters; Jennifer Bernard and Margaret Schedel) 16-MTHC-571,572,573 -3 graduate or undergraduate credit hours. Overview of electronic music. A look at the historic events, people, and technologies that have shaped the current state of electronic music. Introduction to acoustics, and MIDI sequencing with digital audio. Introduction to signal processing and algorithmic composition. Students will create individual projects.
 

 
  • 1st Quarter - Overview of Electronic Music. A look at the historic events, people, and technologies that have shaped the current state of electronic music. Introduction to acoustics, and MIDI and sequencing software.
  • 2nd Quarter - Introduction to Interactive Music.  Basic algorithmic composition using MAX to creative interactive pieces using MIDI.  Continuing discussion and examination of electroacoustic works.
  • 3rd Quarter - Digital Audio and Algorithmic Composition.  More advanced MAX and the addition of MSP, a digital audio add-on to Max.  Continuing discussion and examination of electroacoustic works.

Computer Music Composition (offered three quarters; Helmuth) 16-MTHC-575, 576, 577 - 3 graduate or undergraduate credit hours. Computer music composition on current computer music platforms with recorded acoustic sound and synthesis techniques. Digital signal processing and micro- to macro-level algorithms. Introduction to music programming and interfaces. Aesthetics and performance contexts of tape and live electronic music. Includes mixing techniques, music programming environments and other software, algorithmic composition and listening strategies for new music. Sonic Explorations Concerts present works created in the course at least twice a year.

Intermedia (offered one quarter; Mara Helmuth, Charles Woodman) - 3 graduate or undergraduate credit hours. Intermedia course explores multimedia work through collaborative projects involving visual and audio components. This DAAP/CCM offering will present student works in a screening at the end of the quarter.

Live Electronic Music (offered one quarter; Helmuth) 16-MTHC-581 - 2 graduate or undergraduate credit hours. This course explores performance and composition with live electronic music. Experimenting with new expanded instrumental possibilities, the collaborative process between composer and performer, and collectively amongst all participants will be experientially investigated by composition of a piece and realization of its performance on a concert given by the class, as well as in collective composition and group improvisation. Performer/composer pairs will write their own pieces, as well as participate in group improvisations.

Sound and Animation Composition (offered one quarter; Helmuth) 16-MTHC-585 - 3 graduate or undergraduate credit hours. Exploring the interaction of sound and visual arts in computer music and 3D animation with public domain music software and advanced commercial animation software. Digital multimedia techniques and experimenting with compositional relationships between sound and animation. Multimedia assignments and final project.

Computer Music Programming (offered one quarter; Helmuth) 16-MTHC-582 - 3 graduate or undergraduate credit hours. Creating software instruments and algorithms in current computer music platforms. Applications for real time performance and for composition will be discussed. Student projects such as compositional and improvisational interfaces may combine graphics and music, or incorporate MIDI controllers or other hardware.

Advanced Computer Music Programming (offered one quarter; Helmuth) 16-MTHC-583 - 3 graduate or undergraduate credit hours. Advanced work in computer music programming on current platforms. Focus on Object Oriented Programming for composition. Students design projects for their own composition or performance.

Timbre Studies (offered one quarter; Helmuth) 16-MTHC-584 - 3 graduate or undergraduate credit hours. Study of music, electroacoustic and acoustic, in which timbre is a primary parameter. Theories of timbre discussed in relation to writings and music by recent composers. Course project may be a composition or analysis.

Studio Design and Administration (offered one quarter; Helmuth) - 3 graduate or undergraduate credit hours. The course will focus on electronic music studio design considerations. Administration of computer networks will be discussed. Students will undertake projects to enhance the computer music studio audio systems, computer networking or programming, or room acoustics.

Multimedia on Linux (offered one quarter; Ivica Ico Bukvic) - 3 graduate or undergraduate credit hours. The course focuses on utilizing GNU/Linux operating system as a professional digital audio workstation, as well as provides a historical and hands-on overview of the operating system and its maintenance.