musc 114 - course syllabus
Course Meetings:
Monday and Wednesday from 3:30 to 4:45
Center for the Arts, room 3080.
This course fulfills the General Education II.B.3 requirement, American Experience: Contemporary Issues. Prerequisites: none.
Instructor: Thomas Ciufo
Email: tciufo at towson dot edu
Office: CA 3098, Phone: 410.704.2820
Course Description
Through reading, discussion, listening sessions, independent research, technical tutorials and hands-on projects we will examine the history, theory, techniques and practices surrounding the intersection of music and technology. This course will combine historical and contextualization wile also exploring contemporary artists and current / emerging practices. We will read influential texts and discuss these readings in class. While lecture will be a component of the class, you will be expected to develop your own critical / personal approach to the subject and conduct independent research and analysis. Plan to bring at least one key question or idea, drawn from the reading or listening materials to each class meeting. There will be in class tech labs and tutorials that will contribute to the development of core technical skills, as well as prepare students for individual or collaborative projects.
Objectives
* To gain an understanding of the history of music technology, as well as explore current developments and speculate about future possibilities.
* To develop listening skills in the context of both aesthetic and technical concerns, and understand how certain technologies influence the composition, performance and production process.
* To think critically and creatively about the role of technology in music practice, and in society in general.
* To develop vocabulary, technical skills and hands-on experience with a range of music technologies.
Required Texts and Materials- Regular access to the following text is required.
Holmes, T 2008. Electronic and Experimental Music: Technology, Music, and Culture, 3rd Edition, Routledge.
All other required reading materials, as well as supporting resources will be available online from the course web site. You are expected to read carefully all assigned materials prior to class, and be prepared to ask questions, engage in discussion and offer insights.
This course requires basic computer literacy, access to a computer with an internet connection, the ability to listen to sounds on this computer (with or without headphones), and the ability to regularly check your Towson University email account. University computers, in the music department lab, library and elsewhere, are available for students without direct computer access. You are required to own or have access to headphones. Storage of digital files are your responsibility and should be handled carefully. You may want to bring a portable hard drive to class, or use a flash drive, H drive, or cloud-based storage option.
Online Materials and Posting
This course will have little or no printed materials - all information regarding the course will be distributed on the course web site or directly through email. It is your responsibility to stay connected to these sources of information. Use of a Towson University email addresses is required. All class assignments will be submitted digitally. Technical information regarding how to submit or post files will be on the course web site. This class moves quickly and all assignments are due on time as listed in the online course schedule. Late assignments will receive a 5% grade reduction per day, and will not be accepted more than one week after the due date.
Labs and Projects
We will have tech labs during class (every week or so) as needed. These will be brief tutorials on a given hardware or software tool or technique, and will be followed by hands-on projects. There will be three creative music technology / sound projects that will be developed over the course of the semester. All projects will be discussed and demonstrated in class. We will devote minimal class time to project work; substantial time outside of class will be required to complete your projects.
Attendance
Attendance and active participation are absolutely necessary for this class to function. Unexcused absences will directly impact your grade, as well as indirectly affecting the quality of your work. Allowances will only be made for official excused absences presented to me before the absence or for documented emergencies. Students are permitted one unexcused absences without a grade penalty. Beginning with the second unexcused absence, the final course grade will be reduced 2% for each additional absence. Since all assignments are submitted digitally, assignment deadlines remain regardless of attendance. If a class is missed, it is the student's responsibility to make-up any missed work. Three instances of excessively late attendance will constitute one absence.
Examinations
Throughout the semester there will be occasional in-class quizzes. These quizzes will require short written responses. These quizzes will ask questions about material presented in lecture, readings, and in the course listening modules. If a quiz is missed, it is the student's responsibility to take the quiz at the beginning of the next (and only the next) class meeting. Quizzes cannot be taken more than one class meeting after the quiz was originally given.
In addition to the in-class quizzes, there will be three tests given throughout the semester. Questions will be based on material covered both in the readings and in lecture. Computers, notes, and other aids are not permitted during exams. These exams will focus on the history, concepts, and practices related to music technology, and will not emphasis low-level memorization. The dates for the exams are listed in the online course schedule. Please read the schedule carefully as no make up tests will be offered.
Grading
The final course grade will be made up of the following required elements:
5% participation
40% projects
* found sound / collage (10%)
* synthesis / sequencing (10%)
* final sound project (20%)
30% three tests (10% each)
10% quizzes
15% research paper: 4-5 pages
The grading scale is as follows: A (93-100) A- (90-92) B+ (88-89) B (83-87) B- (80-82) C+ (78-79) C (70-77) D+ (68-69) D (60-67) F (0-59).
Grade Description
F Unsatisfactory overall performance; indication of lack of commitment, lacking critical engagement; incomplete submissions.
D Unsatisfactory overall performance; minimal commitment, lacking critical engagement; partially incomplete submissions.
C Satisfactory; consistent effort and on-time completion; meets basic requirements and shows some progress.
B Good to excellent; indication of progress; creative and critical engagement with fundamental issues; good technique / execution.
A Excellent to outstanding; work displays significant effort and progress; developed and insightful; creative and surprising solutions to assignments; excellent technique, clear communication and good presentation.
Any questions regarding grading must be raised within one week of receiving the grade.
Academic Integrity, Courtesy and Respect
While general collaboration and exchange is encouraged, each student is responsible for their own work. Towson University has a defined Student Academic Integrity Policy, which will be followed in this course.
This class will include discussion and differences of opinions. While critical and thought provoking exchange is expected, courtesy, respect and civility are essential. We are part of a learning community where open mindedness, curiosity, and a wide range of opinions are encouraged. Out of respect for our shared time together and to maintain engagement in the classroom, the use of cell phones, text messaging, facebooking or e-mail is not allowed. Laptops maybe used, but only if they are directly relevance to the classwork at hand.
Unique Requirements
If you have any unique or special needs, please talk them over with me. I will make every effort to make this course as accessible as possible. Students with disabilities should register with the Disabilities Support Services. Students with University-certified disabilities, in the event that their disability prevents completion of a course requirement, may be offered alternative assignments. Students with University-certified disabilities are required to discuss accommodations with me at the beginning of the semester.