Course Syllabus

Course: MUSC 4750

Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Music
Title: Electronic Music

Semester Approved: Fall 2019
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2025
End Semester: Summer 2025

Catalog Description: This course is required for students pursing the bachelor of music degree--music production advisement track. Students will undertake an in-depth study of sound synthesis, its history and various forms. Students will learn to craft custom sounds using analog voltage controlled oscillators, filters, envelope generators and other tools, as well as how these skills function in the digital realm.

Semesters Offered: Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0

Prerequisites: MUSC 4450, or permission of instructor.

Justification: This course is designed to serve the needs of students who wish to focus on the music production advisement track of the bachelor of music degree. Many institutions offer courses like this as part of the curriculum of commercially focused music degrees.


Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the history of synthesized sound. This outcome will be assessed through written exams, student assigned audio work, and the semester final project.

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the various methods of sound synthesis. This outcome will be assessed through written exams, student assigned audio work, and the semester final project.

Students will demonstrate an understanding of digital sampling, including licensing and copyright implications of using sampled sound.  This outcome will be assessed through written exams, student assigned audio work, and the semester final project.

Students will demonstrate an understanding MIDI.  This outcome will be assessed through written exams, student assigned audio work, and the semester final project.

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic properties of electricity  This outcome will be assessed through written exams, student assigned audio work, and the semester final project.


Content:
1. History of synthesized sound.2. Methods of sound synthesis.3. Digital sampling.4. Understanding MIDI5. Basic properties of electricity

Key Performance Indicators:
Written Exams 30 to 40%

Student Audio Work 30 to 40%

Final Project 30 to 40%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Martin, R. Sound Synthesis and Sampling. Current Edition.


Pedagogy Statement:
This course will be taught via direct instruction, student collaboration, mentoring/coaching, and demonstration.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture

Maximum Class Size: 16
Optimum Class Size: 16