Music 160:

Introduction to Electro-Acoustic Music

Fall 2019

Schedule Number: 22512

COURSE INFORMATION

Class Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays

Class Times: 12:30pm-1:45pm

Class Location: M255 (Electronic Music Studio)

Instructor: Dr. Chris Warren

Email: cwarren@sdsu.edu

Office: M226

Office Hours: Tu/Th 12-12:30pm, W 1pm-2pm,

and by appointment

Course Overview

This course explores electronic music composition in the digital medium. While the information presented in class will often be highly technical in nature, the primary focus will be on the creation of works of musical art. Diversity of style and approach is encouraged.  

Ideas presented in the lectures and discussions will be explored in weekly composition projects. The final project for this course will be a complete work, which may be developed from one or more of the composition projects. This composition will be performed in the Electronic Music Marathon.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to demonstrate fluency with formal vocabulary, artistic techniques and procedures of contemporary sonic art practice in the digital domain.
• Students will apply concepts in digital audio recording and signal processing to create sonic art.
• Students will demonstrate technical proficiency with a broad spectrum of contemporary digital audio production tools.
• Students will be able to thoughtfully analyze and critique new sonic works both completed and in progress.
• Students will be able to communicate both orally and verbally about the broad spectrum of electronic music in a clear and articulate manner.

Enrollment Information

There are no prerequisites for this course.  

Course Structure and Conduct

Each week a new concept, either aesthetic or technical in nature, will be presented in class. Compositions based on these ideas will be assigned each Thursday and will be due the following Tuesday before class. Students will play their creations for each other in class each week and offer positive criticism. Emphasis is placed on nurturing an inclusive, supportive environment.

Over the course of the semester, each student will have the opportunity to demonstrate to the class a specific technique that is useful in their own composition practice. At the end of a successful presentation and the class discussion surrounding it, every student should be able to replicate this technique and incorporate it into their own artistic practice.  

Required Concert

El Calibri Magico, Electronic Opera Performance Sunday October 13th, 6-9pm Smith Recital Hall

Course Assessment and Grading

55%         Compositions

15%           Readings and Responses

5%           Presentation

5%            Required Concerts

20%          Final Project at the Electronic Music Marathon Saturday December 7th, 6-10pm

Assignments

11 Compositions @ 5 points each = 55 points

Weekly composition assignments based upon lecture material will be due before class each Tuesday.  Please remember that uploading may be slow, so please make sure that you submit you work with enough time for it to upload prior to class.

3 Reading Assignments with Responses @ 5 points = 15 points

For each reading assignment you will be asked to write three discussion questions in response.

1 Presentation @ 5 points = 5 points

Over the course of the semester, each student will have the opportunity to demonstrate to the class a specific technique that is useful in their own composition practice. At the end of a successful presentation and the class discussion surrounding it, every student should be able to replicate this technique and incorporate it into their own artistic practice.  

1 Concert @ 5 points = 5 points

El Calibri Magico, Electronic Opera Performance Sunday October 13th, 6-9pm Smith Recital Hall. Students will be asked to write three discussion questions in response.

1 Final Project @ 20 points = 20 points

The culmination of the course will be a final composition project, to be presented at the Electronic Music Marathon on Saturday December 7th, 6-10pm.  This presentation of works will comprise the final exam for the course.  Attendance is mandatory and the public will be invited.  In addition, each student must volunteer for one of the many jobs necessary for professional presentation of a public event.  Missing concert or failure to participate in production will result in class failure.

TOTAL POINTS = 100

Texts and materials

Texts

Oliveros, P. (2005). Ways of Listening, from Deep listening: A composer's sound practice. IUniverse.

Katz, R. (2007). An Earientation Session, from Mastering audio: the art and the science. Butterworth-Heinemann.

Keller, H. (1924) Letter to the Orchestra The Auricle, Vol. II, No. 6, March 1924. American Foundation for the Blind, Helen Keller Archives.

Sousa, J. P. (1906). The menace of mechanical music. Appleton’s Magazine, 8(3), 278-84.

Russolo, L. (1913). The art of noise (pp. 35-41). Something else press.

Oswald, J. (1985). Plunderphonics, or audio piracy as a compositional prerogative. In Wired Society Electro-Acoustic Conference (pp. 5-8).

All of the above texts may be accessed from bitwisemusic.com.  The password will be shared in class.

Materials

• Spotify account ($4.99/month for students, with many plans which include several free months)
• Ear plugs

Course Schedule

Table 1 - Course Schedule with Date, Activity, and Assignment

Interacting with me

Email is the best way to reach me: cwarren@sdsu.edu.  I will try to respond within 24-48 hours.

You may also find me in my office, room 226 in the Music building.  My office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:00pm-12:30pm and Wednesdays 1pm-2pm.

Academic Honesty

The University adheres to a strict policy regarding cheating and plagiarism. These activities will not be tolerated in this class. Become familiar with the policy and what constitutes plagiarism. Any cheating or plagiarism will result in failing this class and a disciplinary review by the University. These actions may lead to probation, suspension, or expulsion.

Examples of Plagiarism include but are not limited to:

• Using sources verbatim or paraphrasing without giving proper attribution (this can include phrases, sentences, paragraphs and/or pages of work)
• Copying and pasting work from an online or offline source directly and calling it your own
• Using information you find from an online or offline source without giving the author credit
• Replacing words or phrases from another source and inserting your own words or phrases
• Submitting a piece of work you did for one class to another class

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact the Student Ability Success Center at (619) 594-6473. You can also learn more about the services provided by visiting the Student Ability Success Center website.

To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact the Student Ability Success Center as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from the Student Ability Success Center. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Student Services:

A complete list of all academic support services is available on the Academic Success section of the SDSU Student Affairs website.

For help with improving your writing ability, the staff at the SDSU Writing Center is available in person and online.

Counseling and Psychological Services offers confidential counseling services by licensed psychologists, counselors, and social workers. More info can be found at their website or by contacting (619) 594-5220. You can also Live Chat with a counselor http://go.sdsu.edu/student_affairs/cps/therapist-consultation.aspx between 4:00pm and 10:00pm, or call San Diego Access and Crisis 24-hour Hotline at (888) 724-7240.

Technical Support for Blackboard

Student support for Blackboard is provided by the Library Computing Hub, located on the 2nd floor of Love Library. They can be reached at 619-594-3189 or hub@mail.sdsu.edu