TECH 201 COURSE OUTLINE + SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS

The schedule will be updated with homework and slides after every class.

August

8/28 \ Overview of Topics + Syllabus, Introductions

Homework (HW): Complete TIMARA Start-of-Semester Action Items

Read Talbot-Smith Chapter 1 (e-mail me answers to questions 1-3 on page 13, with subject heading “Reading 1”)

Listen to Wire Recorder Piece by Halim El-Dabh and La Vie en Rose performed by Clara Rockmore

Assignment #1 (introduction)

September

9/2 \ Discuss Listening + Reading

HW: Read Talbot-Smith Chapter 2

Listen to Forbidden Planet: Overture by Bebe & Louis Barron (listening guide), and Pines of Rome by Resphigi (score)

Assignment #2 (advice for class)

9/4 \ Discuss Listening + Reading

HW: listening: Presque Rien No. 1, Lockwood, reading: How Music Works by Byrne, Creation in Reverse

Assignment #3 (field recordings)

9/9 \ Discuss Listening + Reading

HW: Read “What is Electronic Music?” by Thom Holmes from Electronic and Experimental Music: Pioneers in Technology and Composition

Listen to Racing Through, Racing Unseen by Natasha Barrett. Program notes here.

Install REAPER on your laptop and work through the first page of the REAPER help sheet.

9/11 \ Discuss Thom Holmes, Daw Work

HW: Read “Early Electronic Music in Europe” by Thom Holmes from Electronic and Experimental Music: Pioneers in Technology and Composition

Listen to Étude aux Chemins de Fer by Pierre Schaeffer and Gesang Der Juenglinge (Excerpt) by Karlheinz Stockhausen.

Using sounds the class recorded during the Scavenger Hunt, create a 10-15 second (no more, no less) exploration of sound editing and processing using all of the techniques outlined on the first page of the Help Sheet here. Focus on basic sound manipulation (trimming, repeating, fading), and NOT effects. Export your creation as an audio file, take screenshot(s) of the session, and submit the audio file and screenshot(s) to this Box folder in a folder with your name (e.g. “Eli”). Have fun!

9/16 \ Theremin + Mic Recording

HW: Listening: Studie II, Red Bird, reading: Elektronische Musik history (reading 6), Awareness #2

Assignment #5 (Theremin and Mic Recording)

9/18 \  ARP Basics

HW: Reading 7 (Intro. To Analog Synthesis), Assignment 6 (ARP Intro.)

9/23 \ ARP + Automation

HW: Reading 8 (Holmes, Technical Analog Synthesis), Assignment 7 (Automation Data)

9/25 \ Etude 1 Assigned

HW: Reading 9 (More Analog Synthesis), Assignment 8 (Movie Review - audio technology)

9/30 \

HW: Reading 10 (Voltage-Controlled Synthesis) Assignment 9 (More ARP)

(No Class 10/2)

October

10/7 \ Reading 11 (Excessive Audio Levels), Assignment 10 (More Arp)

10/9 \ Reading 12 (Contemporary Classical + Experimental Music), Assignment 11 (Counting Systems)

10/14 \ Midterm Exam | Etude 1 Due

Reading 13 (Ambient + Free Jazz), Assignment 12 (Etude #1 Remix)

10/16 \ Reading 14 (Rock, Space Pop, Turntablism), Assignment 13 (No Input Mixing)

🍂 FALL break (10/18 - 10/26) 🍂

10/28 \ Software FX + Plug-in Automation

Reading 15 (Digital Audio Introduction)

10/30 🎃 \ Reading 16 (Women in Audio)

November

11/4 \ Basic Digital Synthesis

HW: Reading 16 (Algorithmic Synthesis), 

11/6 \ Frequency Domain with SPEAR

11/11 \ MIDI, Software Synths, Awareness

11/13 \ SPEAR Review, Cables + Mixing Workshop

11/18 \ Quiz 2 + Etude 2 Brainstorming

11/20 \ Transitions + Layers Assignment Walkthrough

(No Class 11/25)

🍂 THanksgiving break (11/26 - 11/30) 🍂

December

12/2 \ Distortion + Glitch

12/4 \ Etude 2 Listening

12/9 \ Final Exam - Listening + Take Home

12/11 \ ?

…GO FORTH AND SPREAD THE WORD OF ELECTROnic MUSIC 🔊