Electronic Music

Fall 2009
Saturday, 12:00 - 1:15pm ESM 070
Baljinder Sekhon, Instructor
Phone: 585.325.6976
E-Mail: SekhonMusic@gmail.com
Website: http://www.SekhonMusic.com

The first semester of this course will provide an insight into the diverse world of Electronic Music with an emphasis on basic recording techniques, computer notation and historically-important compositions. The students will learn to record, edit and produce CDs of their own performances which can be used for auditions, scholarship applications and general promotion. Students become familiar with a variety of software programs including: Audacity, Sibelius, Finale, and select Digital Audio Workstations; as well as hardware including microphones, mixing boards, and MIDI controllers. The first semester of this course will also include listening to “classic” computer music
pieces as well as discussions of the various ways the computer is implemented by composers. Each student will create their own “tape” piece for the final project of the Fall Semester. No prior knowledge of recording or programming is needed to be successful in this course.

Syllabus, Fall 2009

September 12

Introduction, What is Electronic Music?

 

September 19

listening: Varèse, Poème électronique

• Review Microphone types, polar patterns, context for use, placement
  
• Sample recordings: Recording our voices in the Computer Music Center
  

 

September 26 (bring your instrument)

listening: Schindler, Diaspora (will be performed on Oct. 1st)

• Recording our instruments 1 (in ECMC)
  

 

October 3 (Geoff Pope, Instructor)

listening: Davidovsky, Synchronisms no. 6

• Recording our instruments 2 (in ECMC)
  (electronic music, page 2)
  

 

October 10

listening: Lucier, I am Sitting in a Room

• Audacity: interface, editing, exporting
  
• Effects Processing
  
• Propose Recording Project
  

 

October 17

listening: Morrill, Getz Variations

• Burning Compact Discs for Playback
  
• Audacity: Final Editing
  
• Record in ECMC (if needed)
  

 

October 24

listening: Cage, Imaginary Landscape no. 1

• Final Recording if Needed
  
• Discussion of Tape Pieces: logistics, techniques, possibilities
  
• Record in ECMC (if needed)
  

 

October 31 (Project 1 Due)

listening: Stockhausen, Mantra

Project 1: Completed recording of yourself on CD

• Conventions in Music Notation and Score Layout (handouts provided)
  
• Introduction to Finale: Creating a new document, Finale Interface and menus, Help, Views, Simple Entry, Triplets, Accidentals, Expression Markings, Dynamics, ARticulations, Copy and Paste
  

 

November 7

listening: Lansky, Idle Chatter

• Finale: Speedy Entry, Shortcuts and “Hot Key” commands, Dynamics, Articulations, Beam and
  Stem, Custom Shortcuts for Articulations, Create/Edit Expressions, Rehearsal Ques
  

 

November 14

listening: Risset, Sud

• Finale: Staff Attributes, The Page Layout Tool, Editing Margins, System Optimization, Ading/Deleting Paegs, Page Numbers, Measure Numbers, Staff Grouping
• Engrave In Class, individual help
  

 

November 21 (Project 2 Due at end of class)

listening: Stockhausen, Gesang der Jünglinge

Project 2: Score engraved with Finale

• Finale: Special Tools, Importing Graphics, Hiding Staves, Hiding Rests, Note Head Font, Custom Lines, Cross-Staff Beams, Divisi Staves, Pedaling, System Breaks, Staff/System/Page Size, Ques
  (electronic music, page 3)
  

 

November 28

(NO CLASS)

 

December 5

listening: Subotnick, Silver Apples of the Moon

• Begin notation of Final Projects in class with Individual Meetings
  
• Utilize recording equipment in ECMC (if needed)
  

 

December 12

listening: Berio, Visage

• Recording/Finale: Working on Final Projects, utilizing equipment in ECMC (if needed)
  

 

December 19 (Project 3 Due)

Project 3: Short piece for CD + Instrument: CD AND Score should be presented

• perform or present compositions for the class
  

January 9

listening: Babbitt, Philomel

• Introduction to Reaktor, Synthesis and Sequencing

 

January 16

listening: Dodge, Any Resemblance is Purely Coincidental

• Introduction to Pure Data and Interactive Music

January 23

listening: Xenakis, Mycenae Alpha

• Discussion of course goals for Spring Semester and closing discussions.

 

Software Used In Class (fall semester)

Finale 2009, Sibelius, Audacity, Cubase 4,

Computer Music Events in Rochester (Fall 2009)

• Eastman Computer Music Center Fall Concert 1: Thursday, October 1st; 8:00 pm, Kilbourn Hall Eastman Faculty Artist Series: Allan Schindler, composer
• Eastman Computer Music Center Fall Concert 2: Friday, October 2nd; 8:00 pm, Kilbourn Hall Reaturing guest composer Mikel Kuehn and guest artists Nathaniel Bartlett, marimbist and Deborah Norin-Kuehn, soprano
• OSSIA New Music Ensemble: November 25th, 8:00pm, Kilbourn Hall

 

Last updated: October 7 , 2009