Computer Applications in Music Spring 2007

THIS IS AN OUT-OF-DATE EXAMPLE SYLLABUS

Instructor: Dr. William Kleinsasser

2:00-3:15 TR
CA3092 (Music Computer Lab) and 3087 (Creative Technology Lab)

Phone: 410 704-2817 (written messages can be left at the Music Department office)
Office hours: To be posted on office door

Required books and supplies (Books can be purchased at the University Bookstore in the Union building)

 

Course Description

Introduction to the concepts, terms, and skills needed for creative use of computer applications in music.  The Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) protocol will b explored with a focus on the design and creative use of computer music systems.

Course objectives, organization, assignments, and projects

The course will meet in two weekly meetings.  The course work is divided into creative projects that each take two weeks to complete as described in the schedule below.  The projects will require engaging the topics outlined in the schedule below and applying them in successful creative work.  Topics and assignments are subject to change as scheduling changes dictate.  In order to keep up, all reading assignments need to be completed before the classes for that week.

Prerequisites

Successful completion of MUSC 132 or consent of instructor.

Assignments and Grading

The grade for the semester is based primarly on a series of independent, creative project assignments applying the skills and concepts discussed in class as noted in the schedule.  All assignments are to be turned in at the beginning of class the day they are due.  Assignments turned in up to two days late will be automatically marked down one full grade (A work becomes B grade, etc.).  After two days, late assignments will not be accepted.  There will be a midterm exam covering the material from weeks 1-8.  There will be a final project electronic portfolio that is explained in greater detail below.

Final Project Portfolio

Each student will complete a final project electronic portfolio containing complete revised versions of each project from the semester.  The portfolio demonstrates mastery of each project and the ability to present work in digital form as DVD-R.  The portfolio is to be turned in as a DVD with all projects contained in clearly labeled folders on the disc.  The final project will be due during final exam week with a specific  date and time is listed in the final exam schedule for this semester.

Studio time

Each student will be expected to work in the department Computer Lab (CL) and Creative Technology Lab (CTL) for a minimum of 2 hours per week outside of class time.  CTL time will be scheduled in teams of two and will allow each student time for hands-on application of the course material, completion of assignments, exploration of the workstations and studio, and completion of the projects.  If a student is more than ten minutes late for their scheduled lab time, another student in the class my take over the time for one hour.  If at the end of the hour the studio is still not claimed, the student may continue working for another hour.  At any time, if the studio is not being used, a student in this course may use it in one hour blocks.  Walk-in use can continue for up to a maximum of three hours on any given day.  Please be considerate of your fellow students and share the resources.

Grading

Grading for the semester will be determined using the following approximate weighting:

Combined project grades

65

Midterm Exam

15

Final project electronic portfolio

10

Preparation for class, reading, class participation in tutorials and discussions, and attendance

10

Grading will follow the standard TU grading system including + and - grades with the following break points:

                          92-100%  = A        90-91% = A-
88-89%   = B+       82-87%   = B        80-81% = B-
78-79%   = C+       72-77%   = C        70-71% = C-
68-69%   = D+       62-67%   = D        60-61% = D- (not for final grade)
0-59%     = F

Policy on Assignments and Due Dates

All assignments are due at the beginning of class unless otherwise indicated.  If an assignment is turned in up to two days late, it will be automatically marked down one full grade (A work becomes B grade, etc.).  After two days, late assignments will not be accepted.


Attendance Policy
 

Attendance at all classes and individual scheduled studio times is required.   You are expected to use every one of your scheduled studio time blocks.  After one unexcused absence, additional missed classes will each take one +/- mark off of your final grade. 


Other policies

Cell phones, pagers, Blackberries and similar devices must be turned off and put away during all class meetings.  If a student has an emergency need for a cell phone, that use must be proposed in writing and is subject to approval by the instructor.

Student conduct: The TU Student Handbook provides policies regarding personal honesty, integrity, cheating, and plagiarizing that will apply to work in this course.

Students with special needs/disabilities must see the instructor at the beginning of the semester to discuss necessary accommodations for learning and testing.  Documentation of a particular problem must be provided at that time.  Everything related to this matter will be kept strictly confidential.  The TU Student Handbook provides policies regarding students with special needs/disabilities that will apply to work in this course.



COURSE SCHEDULE, SPRING 2006

 

Week

Project Assignment

Topics

Reading

1-2

Introductions/Framing Contexts
Schedule team studio times/Introduction to software overview

Introduction to the Learn online site, lab,  studio, and facilities
Using the networks; 
File management and printing; 
Studio design and concepts 

Rothstein: 1-14, 177-202;
CMS html documentation

3-4

MIDI and control of musical events

Using MIDI sequencers, multi-channel 
setups, editing MIDI data 

Roads: 970-984;
Rothstein: 123-159;
Digital Performer manual

 

PROJECT 1:
MIDI Project.  This project will demonstrate the student's understanding and ability to use MIDI control of musical events in Apple's Garage Band and Digital Performer software sequencers using MIDI and virtual instrument tracks.  This project will demonstrate the student's understanding and ability to set-up and use track-based software and use MIDI to record sequenced events and control performance aspects of sound in a sequenced context.  Grading will be based on the quality of the project, accuracy of the work, and demonstrated mastery of the concepts and practices in the software used to complete the project.  Assignment is worth 17% of final grade.

 

 

5-7

Representing Music Notationally and Graphically on paper and as data.

Using computer music notation;
Standard Midi File transfers

Roads: 703-758; 
Finale video and printed tutorials

 

PROJECT 2:
Music Notation project.  This project will demonstrate the student's understanding and ability to use computer notation software and graphic software to represent musical ideas and to print and translate the data into many transferrable forms.  The project will involve notation of a one-minute original music excerpt that uses acoustic instruments, voice, and at least one computer device using standard notation and expanded 20th-21st-Cent. notation.  Grading will be based on the quality of the musical fragment, mastery of using notation software to represent the musical intention of the composition, on the accuracy and correctness of the music notation produced including alignment, formatting, spacing, and graphic clarity, and on demonstation of using notation as a basis for data transformation.  Assignment is worth 16% of final grade.

 

 

8

Control and Signal Hardware & Connections: Studio design basics

MIDI hardware and interconnections 
Instrument setup and editing

Rothstein 161-176, 45-94;
Roads: 611-701, 1019-1037;
CMS html documentation

9-10

Digital Audio and signal processing

Introduction to digital audio 
and computer audio representation and manipulation; 

Synchronization and external 
clock sources

Rothstein: 15-44;
Roads: 5-47, 347-486; 
ProTools manual;

 

PROJECT 3:
Signal Processing Project.  This project will demonstrate the student's understanding and ability to use digital sound signal processing using software-based signal processors within Digital Performer and ProTools software.  The project will involve integration of at least three software plugin processors in Digital Performer and one live realtime-audio signal processor in a recorded performance.  Grading will be based on the demonstrated understanding and use of the processors chosen, the effectiveness of the signal flow and processing combination, and the use of MIDI and automation to control the parameters of the processing.  Assignment is worth 16% of final grade.

 

 

 

 

MIDTERM EXAM

 

11-13

Programming MIDI control, Audio signal programming, Integrating Video Images in Max/MSP/JItter

Using MIDI to control musical events and complex systems;
Introduction to MIDI Control and  system design; 
MIDI programming using MAX

Roads: 985-1016;
MAX/MSP/Jitter manual and examples: Introduction, Overview, tutorials; Williams: 495-552

 

PROJECT 4:
Software programming in Max/MSP/Jitter project.  This project will demonstrate the student's understanding and ability to use beginning programming skills in the Max/MSP/Jitter environment to create software for composition and performance.  Grading will be based on the basic understanding of programming in this environment, use of simple modular programming approaches, successful working completion of the software, and degree to which the software solves the stated idea/problem/outcome of the project articulated by the student in a brief written preface to the software project.  The sophistication of the issue to be addressed and the elegance of the software solution will be part of the grade.  Assignment is worth 16% of final grade.

 

 

14

Student demonstrations of selected projects

 

 

15

Final Project Portfolio

Real-time interactive systems

MAX/msp manuals

 

PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT:
Students will create and turn in a portfolio in electronic form in DVD-ROM that contains all four course projects revised to address any issues or problems they contained at the time they were originally reviewed.  This assignment will be graded based on the completion of the four projects in final form and the presentation of the electronic portfolio turned in on DVD-ROM. Assignment is worth 10% of final grade.