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Digital Music A Module, First Semester Small Computer Lab Instructor: Billy Pasour Intro Students will learn how to create music on a computer from the ground up. Course elements will include basic harmony, sound design, use of plug-ins, mixing, and mastering, all of which will be stressed through project work. Despite the constant use of computers, this class is an arts course, and the goal is for students to learn to compose music. In the beginning, the course will focus on technical aspects, and, as the student becomes more competent, the focus will shift to composition techniques and creativity. Tools Logic Pro – This is Apple’s professional audio creation software. It will be installed on the computers in the small computer lab as well as some of the computers in the big computer lab. This program is excellent for composition both in traditional styles as well as more modern audio based approaches. SawCutter 2.0 (Optional) – A simple and straightforward synthesizer/sampler and multi-track composition tool. It is PC only, so use will be limited in class, but the student is encouraged to download it from cuttermusic.com Focus Skills Work Creatively Persist in Achieving Quality There will be a lot of project work, and what I expect of these projects is not only technical knowledge but a sense of creativity. The ultimate goal of this course is that the student becomes so comfortable working in this technological environment that he or she can be creative and rigorous at the same time. The student should be able to have fun with the material. It is also important that the student push him or herself beyond his or her abilities and set ambitious goals. I’d much prefer to see a student work hard at an ambitious goal and not quite succeed as opposed to a student who turns in a perfect project that relies heavily on pre-existing skill. Any of your projects in this course can be used as portfolio items. Grading Work Ethic – 50% Homework – 10% Projects – 40% Work ethic encompasses attendance and attentiveness as well as drive and desire. Students will be expected to actively engage in lectures and discussions, and will be asked to complete in-class examples, as well as to passionately work toward completing projects. Homework will generally be written assignments that elaborate on in-class theory topics. Homework is not a big portion of your grade, and I won’t expect much from your afternoons, but that means that I do expect a lot from you in class. Projects will be due weekly. Each project will focus on a particular skill or lesson that has been the focus of the week. A – An “A” student is always present for class, has input in the form of questions and help for fellow students, completes assignments on time, and works hard on ambitious projects. B – A “B” student is usually present and peaceable for class, completes assignments in a relatively timely fashion, and completes projects that do not demonstrate a mastery of the subject. C – A “C” student is barely able to keep up with class because of absences, is inattentive when in class, sometimes doesn’t complete assignments, and turns in poor, hastily thrown together projects. D – A “D” student is usually either absent or unruly, often doesn’t complete assignments, and sometimes doesn’t turn in projects. I will work with you to make sure you earn the highest grade possible. I know classroom participation is sometimes viewed as unimportant comparatively, but it will be very important in this class, as the course is set up to snowball bigger until the final projects at the end of each quarter. Avoid poor assignments (and boost your participation grade) by asking questions about anything you don’t understand. No extra credit will be offered. Spirit of the Classroom This is an arts course with a lot of technical instruction. There is the tendency in art classes to go off and do your own thing. While such meandering can be fruitful, the aim of this class is to increase the breadth and depth of your compositional capabilities. For this reason, you must remain on task and focused on the lesson of the week. The week will generally be laid out such that a topic is introduced on Monday (and Tuesday for difficult concepts) and project work begins immediately thereafter. As an example, if the topic is utilizing dynamic timbre on a digital synthesizer, then the project for that week must feature a synthesizer with live or envelope controlled modulations. You can be creative within that realm, and you can be creative in other aspects of your piece, but you must be focused on the task. If you can do this, you will come out of this course a much better composer and a much more knowledgeable musician than when you went in. Attendance, Rules, etc. If a student is absent ten or more times, he or she will automatically be withdrawn. If a student is absent several times (but less than ten), his or her grade will undoubtedly suffer, as participation is a large part of the grade.