Electronic/Computer Music Classes Under Semesters at Ohio University

Music 1780  Music 4130  Music 4150  Music 4160   Music 4170
If you know the number of the class you are interested in, just click on the class number above.  Otherwise, just scroll down until you find the one you want.

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Music 1780: Computer Skills for Musicians (top)
Credit: 1 hr 
Class Structure: one 2-hr lab/week

Projected schedule of offering:
  as needed, but probably infrequently

Course objectives:
Students will develop competencies in basic computer skills for musicians that will enable them to complete proficiencies required for their specific music degree program and/or prepare them for success in upper-level classes in electronic and computer music.

Note: Audio Production Majors and other non-music majors who are looking for a semester class equivalent to Music 178A should give serious consideration to taking one of the following 4000-level semester courses instead.


Music 4130 and 5130: History and Practice of Electronic Music  (top)
Credit: 2 hrs 
Class Structure: two 1-hr lectures/week; plus arranged lab; note: this course includes 3 exams as well as 3 mini-projects.

Projected schedule of offering:  Fall Semester

prerequisite: Permission is required, but all you need to do is email me to tell me to that you are interested in the course and relate some details about yourself that will give me confidence in your ability to be successful in the course.  This class is suitable even for students with very modest music ability and a little experience using music production software (Garage Band or something similar is fine).  It begins with basic concepts and builds incrementally.

Course objectives:
Students will gain an overview of the history and development of electronic music (including representative musical compositions), as well as an understanding of its technology and terminology through lectures, demonstrations, readings and exams.  Students will also complete lab projects which will serve to reinforce this learning with practical studio applications using current technology.

Link to a previous syllabus

Note: This is a direct Q2S conversion of the old quarter-based Music 413


Music 4150 and 5150: Computers in Music Production  (top)
Credit: 2 hrs 
Class Structure:  two 1.5-hr lecture-labs/week; plus arranged lab); note: this course may have one quiz, but the primary emphasis is on individual projects.

Projected schedule of offering:  Spring Semester

prerequisite: Permission is required, but all you need to do is email me to tell me to that you are interested in the course and relate some details about yourself that will give me confidence that you have the background necessary to be successful in the class. In no particular order, the main ingredients I am looking for are ...
  1. musical ability 
  2. skill and comfort using a computer
  3. musical/sonic imagination
Possessing all three is ideal, but I am hoping everyone in the class will possess at least two.

Note: DAW programs available in the MIDI Lab include Digital Performer (MOTU), Live (Ableton), and Logic Pro (Apple). Generally the class will focus on Live (Ableton), but you should email me to find out which software program(s) the will be emphasized the next time the class is offered.

Course objectives:
Students will develop their mastery of standard professional-quality computer programs used in music and audio production.  Students will gain experience with multi-track sequencing, digital signal routing, mixing, automation, plug-ins, and music for video while working on assigned individual projects.



Music 4160 and 5160: Independent Project in Electronic/Computer Music  (top)
Credit: 2 hrs 
Class Structure: work independently

Projected schedule of offering:  every Fall and Spring Semester

prerequisite: permission required. A strong performance in Music 4130, 4150, or 4170 will automatically earn you permission to enroll in Music 4160. Alternatively, you can email me to schedule a meeting and/or submit a "demo reel" of music you have produced using a computer.  You can also submit a "demo reel" electronically, using a sites like SoundCloud, DropBox, MySpace (does anyone still use it?) or some similar site.

Link to a previous syllabus

Course objectives:
Students will work independently, with faculty supervision, to produce a large-scale electronic/computer music project or a series of smaller projects. Final projects will be presented publicly in a mini-concert during final exam week.



Music 4170 and 5170: Computer Music Programming  (top)
Credit: 3 hrs 
Class Structure:  two 1.5-hr lecture/lab meetings per week;
note: this is a projects-based class.

Projected schedule of offering:  Spring Semester

Note: Though it's not stated as such in the catalog description (since it could change someday), this is currently a class on learning Max programming. It is strongly recommended that students purchase a 12-month student license for the program. (It's cheaper than most textbooks!)

prerequisite: Permission is required, but all you need to do is email me so say that you are genuinely interested in developing Max programming skills and that you like working with computers.

Link to Fall 2016 syllabus

Course objectives:
Students will gain experience in designing and implementing their own computer music programs.  Beginning with basic syntax and simple projects suitable for a novice programmer, the course will progress to more complicated projects and culminate in a final project.  Designing and creating interactive programs will be a primary focus of the course.

Music 1780  Music 4130 & 5130  Music 4150 &5150  Music 4160 & 5160   Music 4170 & 5170   (top)
If you know the number of the class you are interested in, just click on the class number above.  Otherwise, just scroll up until you find the one you want.