Syllabus for Music 161

Introduction to Electronic Music (3 units - CSU)

Instructor: Phil Gompertz

Office: 1^st Floor Library (Media Center)

E-mail: gomperpe@piercecollege.edu

(Recommended) Text: An Introduction to the Creation of Electroacoustic Music by

Samuel Pellman, Wadsworth Publishing Company

Catalog Description:

This exploratory course emphasizes the application of musical acoustics to the music synthesizer. Technical, compositional, and performance skills utilizing digital synthesizers, MIDI applications, and recording techniques are introduced and developed.

Course Content:

• The science/physics of sound (waves, frequency, phase differences, timbre)
• The history of electronic music (analog synthesis, digital synthesis, pre and post MIDI)
• Sound recording techniques and equipment (microphones, mixers, multitrack tape recording (analog and digital), outboard effects processors)
• All things MIDI (sequencing, synth patch editing, advanced MIDI networks)
• Digital Sound Sampling and Synthesis
• Sound Effect design
• Composition and performance of electronic music

Grading:

Weekly Projects: 25%

Midterm Project: 25%

Final Project: 35%

Final Exam: 15%

Projects will consist of composed pieces of electronic music and the creation of new and unique synthesized sounds. The final exam will cover electronic music terminology.