Technology
in Music and Related Arts (TIMARA)
(Also see Contemporary Music)
100. Introduction to Music Technology I 3 hours First Semester. Survey of relationships between music and current
and emerging technologies. Selected review of historically significant
works and composers, and of contemporary uses of the medium. Discussion
of the impact of new media on the aesthetics, thought processes,
and working methods of the composer. Introduction to MIDI, sound
synthesis, and digital audio. Practical work in the music technology
lab. Consent of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 18. Preference
given to students for whom this course is required.
Staff
150. Studio Skills for Composers 3 hours Second Semester. Introduction to concepts of recording, mixing, editing,
and composition within the realm of the large studio. Students will
work on creative projects including the recording of live performers
and intermediate MIDI techniques. Opportunities for individual hands-on
recording will be limited, but students will be involved in a number
of in-class recording sessions in which their music (or the music
of their peers) is recorded. Course will cover editing and revision
for digital audio, and compositional, technical and aesthetic issues
associated with recorded music, and the effective combination of
digital audio and MIDI sources. Prerequisite: TECH 100. Consent of
instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 18. Preference given to students
for whom this course is required.
Staff
200. Studio Techniques 3 hours First Semester. An introduction to the studio environment. Practical
work includes analog sound models, MIDI, digital audio, DAT and ADAT,
synthesis techniques, sequencing and sound editing on the computer.
Introduction to working with additional media in the studio and on
the Internet. Survey of historical and contemporary practice in the
field, exploration of analytical and critical techniques. Consent
of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 12. Preference given to
students for whom this course is required.
Mr. Lopez
201. Computer Music 3 hours Second Semester. Creation and transcription of music for performance
under computer control. Introduction to MAX, an object-oriented,
interactive musical programming language. Concept and design of computer
instruments. Introduction to theories of digital sound generation,
sampling, and editing. Investigation of timbre synthesis by means
of frequency modulation. Practical work with computers. Projects
emphasizing individual creative goals. Prerequisite: TECH 200. Consent
of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 12.
Mr. Nelson
210. Advanced Computer Music 3 hours First Semester. Investigation of theoretical aspects of digital synthesis
(sampling theory, signal processing, and program design). Concepts
in elementary mathematics will be introduced. Discussion and application
of algorithms for computer-assisted composition. Investigation of
real-time techniques using the Macintosh computer, MIDI, and digital
sound synthesizers. Individual creative projects stressing the unique
capabilities of digital music systems. Prerequisites: TECH 200, 201.
Consent of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 12.
Mr. Nelson
211. Performance Technology 3 hours Second Semester. Concentration on realtime technologies and performance
issues. Emphasis on creative work outside the studio with a requirement
for at least two public performances. Topics include performance
issues in the field, performance technologies not already covered
in previous courses, realtime sonic and visual systems, realtime
motion sensing, performative gesture, and ensemble and collaboration
issues. Students will engage frequently in self-critique and class
critique. Prerequisite: TECH 210. Consent of instructor required.
Enrollment Limit: 12.
Mr. Lopez
250, 251. Analog and Digital Circuit Design 3 hours Next offered 2005-2006.
310. Independent Creative Project 3 hours Second Semester. An opportunity for students who have completed introductory
and intermediate work in the TIMARA studios and who wish to undertake
an individual project on an advanced level. Primarily intended to
support the development of the Junior Project or Junior Recital.
Work created for this course will receive group critique in the Junior/Senior
Seminar. Prerequisite: Junior standing in the TIMARA major. Consent
of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 10.
Mr. Nelson, Mr. Lopez
330. Studio Recording 3 hours First Semester. Theory and application of studio equipment to the
recording of acoustic and electronic musical instruments. Use of
recording equipment including multitrack tape recorders, analog and
digital tape recorders, mixing consoles, signal processing devices,
and microphones. Projects will include multitrack recordings, direct
to stereo recordings, and advanced tape editing. Prerequisite: Junior
standing in the TIMARA major. Consent of instructor required. Enrollment
Limit: 10.
Staff
350. Workshop in Music and Media Technologies 3 hours First and Second Semester. Advanced workshops in the use of technological
media in composition, performance, interactive media, and in interdisciplinary
contexts. Emphasis on creation of original works and solution of
performance problems of analog, digital, and hybrid music systems,
and the use of technological media in a variety of contexts. Prerequisite:
TECH 211. Note: May be repeated for credit. Consent of instructor
required. Enrollment Limit: 15.
Mr. Lopez, Mr. Nelson
410. Independent Creative Project 3 hours First and Second Semester. An opportunity for students who have completed
introductory and intermediate work in the TIMARA studios and who
wish to undertake an individual project on an advanced level. Primarily
intended to support the development of the Senior Project or Senior
Recital. Work created for this course will receive group critique
in the Junior/Senior Seminar. Prerequisite: Senior standing in the
TIMARA major. Consent of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 10.
Mr. Lopez, Mr. Nelson