Basic Electroacoustics II: Electronic Sound in Art

Music G6602Y
Spring 2003

Professor: Douglas Repetto, douglas@music.columbia.edu
TA: Johnathan Lee, jlee@music.columbia.edu

Our Motto: "Why, then how."

This is a fun class. In it we explore many ways that electronic sound is and has been used in making art. You'll have a fair amount of work to do, but it will mostly be casual, creative work on topics that you choose.

The Class

There are three main components to the class: lectures, student research, and student works.

Lectures cover historical and contemporary uses of electronic sound in numerous art disciplines, forms, styles, and movements, and the work of individual artists. Student research involves brief reports on student-selected topics related to the lectures. Student works are art projects proposed and/or created by individual students or collaborative groups.

We will also have a number of guest lecturers during the term.

This is not a class about learning to use software or hardware tools. You are expected to either have some experience with your tools or be willing to learn how to use them outside of class. You are encouraged to experiment and to learn new ways of working; just keep in mind that while the CMC can provide access to tools, learning to use them is your responsibility.

Lecture topics include:

algorithmic, generative, and system modeling techniques
data sonification
live performance
installation and electronic sculpture
custom electronics, circuit bending, and robotics
net.art
collage, sampling, and copyright issues

The Schedule

The class meets twice a week and follows a four class cycle:

lecture
student research presentations
lecture
student works presentations

So each week we'll have one lecture and one batch of student presentations. That means that you'll do a presentation of either your research or your art work every week. Weekly lecture topics will be determined as we progress through the term. The online lecture notes are here.

The Grades

Grading is as follows:

attendance: 25%
assignments: 25%
midterm project: 25%
final project: 25%

Come to class, do the assignments, do the two projects, and you have an A. Don't do all of that, and you don't have an A. Grading is purely mechanical, and does not involve the evaluation of your work.

This grading policy is designed to encourage you to stretch out and take chances with your work, as the success of your pieces is not related to your grade in the class.

The Studio Access

Taking this class gives you access to the equipment in 324 Prentis and 803 Dodge. To reserve a machine use the signup sheet at:

http://music.columbia.edu/cmc/signup

The username and password will be given to you on the first day of class. You may do your work anywhere you like and use whatever tools you want. You are not required to use any particular software, hardware, techniques, equipment, etc. However, you will need to present your work regularly in class, so take that into consideration when deciding how and where to do your work.

The End

(Have some fun!)