Courses Offered in Fall 2023 (112AY 1S)

Course Overview and Objectives

This is neither a software instruction course nor a course in commercial music arrangement and production.

The course emphasizes: 1. learning by doing and composing; and 2. academic theory, literature reading, aesthetics, and analysis of electronic and computer music works.

1. Students will primarily learn how various digital processing techniques in DAWs, including digital signal processing (DSP), can be applied to sound cutting, editing, collage, and ultimately experimental computer music creation. Technical topics include non-linear cutting and splicing, tape techniques, which have now become important digital sound techniques, sound effects such as filtering and reverb, computer sound synthesis, and spatialization of sound.

   Ultimately, students will experiment with multitrack software, such as Audition, to organize, collage, and create computer music or soundscape works using environmental field recordings as source material. Students will complete assigned exercises, a midterm miniature work, and a final project.

2. Students will listen to and analyze classic works of computer and digital music, and read materials related to digital music technologies, aesthetics, history, and literature.

Through a course design that places equal emphasis on theory, aesthetics, and practical techniques, students will develop skills in computer music composition and reflect on the interdisciplinary integration of technology and musical art as a means of expressing thought and emotion.

Path to Goal

From open ears to happy new ears!

Course Overview and Objectives

This course focuses on performance practice and compositional exercises. Through the interpretation of traditional and contemporary performance techniques, the course explores the possibilities of instrumental sound production and examines how these sounds can be applied in actual composition and performance.

Course content includes:

1. Understanding the principles of instrumental sound production and deriving advanced extended techniques for instruments.
2. Discussing scores and inviting performers to demonstrate, or using related videos as demonstrations.
3. Integrating sound materials by classifying, blending, organizing, and applying them in actual compositional exercises.
4. Engaging in discussion and review after performers read and perform the scores.