Music Technology and Computers Fall 2021 Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12:30 to 1:50 p.m. In-Person location WSH 180. Discussion Sections: Fridays, 50 minutes. In-Person locations listed below.
Instructor: Kojiro Umezaki Office: Contemporary Arts Center 3019 Email: kumezaki@uci.edu Meeting by appointment only.
Teaching Assistants: Chieh Huang, Chris Hadley, JoVia Armstrong, Steven Lewis
Please contact Teaching Assistants via the Canvas Inbox.
Friday Mandatory TA Discussion Sessions:
11am (Section B) - Chieh Huang MM 116
11am (Section C) - Steven Lewis AITR 190
12pm (Section D) - JoVia Armstrong MM 116
12pm (Section E) - Chris Hadley AITR 190
1pm (Section F) - TA rotation MM 116
Overview
This course is an introduction to the history, aesthetics, techniques, and theory of computer (digital) technology in music.
Topics covered in this course will likely include (others are also possible):
Defining sound (from physical to psychological).
Differentiating between analog and digital representations.
Digital representation of music and sound and its artistic implications.
History and aesthetics of early electronic music.
History and aesthetics of early computer music.
Modern uses of computers in music (production).
Modern uses of computers in music (distribution). [likely not this quarter]
Creative practices with music and technology (collaborative).
Overview of contemporary digital music tools (digital audio and digital music sequencers).
Basic studio techniques.
Basic synthesis methods.
Sampling and issues of ownership/copyright. [likely not this quarter]
New ideas in music-technology-business ecosystem.
The future of music and technology.
NOTE:
Follow the Canvas modules for this course to help ensure you complete all assignments on time.
Inquiry and activity-based learning will be the guiding structure during class time, often resulting in break-out group discussions/activities or use of online engagement tools (Canvas, Zoom, etc.). This requires active in-class participation. Students may be asked to create questions, plausible answers to those questions, and evaluate and "like" others’ posts/questions/answers. Submitting suggestions and ideas will also be encouraged. Peer mentoring in class will be encouraged. The instructor will provide a lecture component for each meeting which will include topics on both technique/theory and history/aesthetics. There will be one or more special events for which attendance will be highly encouraged. There will be no text book, but online readings will be made available. It will be up to the class participant to search for additional reading material to supplement in-class discussion.
Date: open from Monday, Dec 6 at 12pm until Friday, Dec 10 at 5pm.
Duration: no time limit
Acquisition/Return Method: Online quiz on Canvas.
Material Required: Open notes.
Evaluation
60% - Assignments (including some smaller creative projects and larger quizzes)
15% - Creative Project #1 (due Friday, Week 7)
20% - Creative Project #2 (due Friday, Week 10)
5% - Discussion Session attendance
Note: It is possible that for some groups Audacity will be the software used for Creative Project #1 and #2. The instructor will provide more details about this option if needed.
Late assignment policy: 10% deduction per day after deadline. Deduction starts immediately after deadline (e.g. due date/time Dec 1 at 5pm and submission date/time, Dec 1 at 6pm means 10% deduction; due date/time Dec 1 at 5pm and submission date/time, Dec 2 at 6pm means 20% deduction, etc.)
With one exception (see below), there will be no extra credit option.
While there is no attendance policy for regular class meetings, it is up to the student to keep up with missed course content. The instructor and TAs are not obligated to assist with missed course content. There is a mandatory attendance policy for the Friday discussion sections, however. For the discussion sections, you are permitted one absence without any deductions.
Attendance at an instructor-selected concert featuring music-technology will result in some extra credit. The extra credit will work as follows:
An additional 1% added to final course grade.
Text
There is no required purchase of a text book. Most (if not all) reading materials will be online.
PerusallLinks to an external site. is the software we will be using to comment together on class texts. PerusallLinks to an external site. is free for UCI students. Please be sure to use your student ID numbers when creating an account to help make sure you receive credit in the Canvas grading system.
You will be expected to read the online manuals and tutorials for Soundation for Education and Audacity on your own.
Out-of-class Time
This is a 4-unit course. The meetings total roughly 3 hours per week. The expectation is to spend roughly 2-3 times the amount of "in-meeting" time outside of the regular lecture and discussion meetings. That amounts to 6-9 hours per week outside of regular meetings.
Academic Integrity Statement
Academic honesty is a requirement for passing this class. Any student who compromises the academic integrity of this course is subject to a failing grade. The work you submit must be your own. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to copying answers from another student, allowing another student to copy your answers, communicating exam answers to other students during an exam, attempting to use notes or other aids during an exam, or tampering with an exam after it has been corrected and then returning it for more credit. If you do so, you will be in violation of the UCI Policies on Academic Integrity <see https://aisc.uci.edu/Links to an external site.>. It is your responsibility to read and understand these policies. Note that any instance of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Integrity Administrative Office for disciplinary action and is cause for a failing grade in the course.
This Class is an Anti-Racist Space
While we welcome diverse perspectives and respectful disagreement, expressions of discrimination, stereotyping, hate, or violence will not be tolerated.
Sexual Harassment/Title IX Officer
The Sexual Harassment/Title IX Officer (SHO) is responsible for coordinating the University's compliance with federal and state discrimination and sexual harassment laws, as well as investigations of sex offenses. As such, the SHO provides educational programs regarding discrimination, sexual harassment and sex offense prevention for students, staff and faculty on the campus and at the medical center. The SHO responds to, investigates, and/or seeks resolution to allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment or sex offenses, and serves as an information resource on issues of sexual harassment.
Click here for more information on UCI’s Title IX Officer.
COVID-19 Policies
When physically present in a classroom, other instructional space, or any other space owned or controlled by UCI, all students and all employees (faculty and staff) must comply with COVID-19 related UCI executive directives and guidance. This guidance takes into account federal, state, and local guidelines and is available at https://uci.edu/coronavirus/. The following provides an outline of the basic requirements and includes links to other sites for more information.
Reasonable Accommodations
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation related to the coronavirus or for any other reason to facilitate your participation in this course, please contact the UCI Disability Services Center (DSC).
How to Request a Reasonable Accommodation: Students who want to request reasonable accommodations must register with DSC at the DSC Student Registration Page.
Cleaning and Sanitizing of Classrooms and Other Learning Spaces
UCI will clean and sanitize classrooms and other learning spaces according to standards established by the campus and articulated under the heading “Classroom Planning” at: https://uci.edu/coronavirus/building-etiquette/index.php. If you find something of concern in this regard, please report it to the instructor and to safety@uci.edu and covid19@uci.edu.
Selling, preparing, or distributing for any commercial purpose course lecture notes or video or audio recordings of any course unless authorized by the University in advance and explicitly permitted by the course instructor in writing. The unauthorized sale or commercial distribution of course notes or recordings by a student is a violation of these Policies whether or not it was the student or someone else who prepared the notes or recordings.
The syllabus page shows a table-oriented view of the course schedule, and the basics of
course grading. You can add any other comments, notes, or thoughts you have about the course
structure, course policies or anything else.
To add some comments, click the "Edit" link at the top.
Course Summary:
Date
Details
Due
Fri Sep 24, 2021
Assignment
Discussion Section Attendance Week 0
due by 2pm
Tue Sep 28, 2021
Assignment
Reading: Perusall Practice with Creative Project Guidelines
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Syllabus Quiz
due by 1:30pm
Thu Sep 30, 2021
Assignment
Download Audacity
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
Reading: How Do Microphones Work?
due by 12:30pm
Fri Oct 1, 2021
Assignment
Discussion Section Attendance Week 1
due by 2pm
Tue Oct 5, 2021
Assignment
Record and Edit Full Name
due by 12:30pm
Wed Oct 6, 2021
Assignment
Reading: Perusall Practice with Creative Project Guidelines
(MUSIC 51 LEC A: MUSIC & COMPUTERS (04180))
due by 3:30pm
Thu Oct 7, 2021
Assignment
Record and Edit "A Sound"
due by 12:30pm
Fri Oct 8, 2021
Assignment
Discussion Section Attendance Week 2
due by 2pm
Mon Oct 11, 2021
Assignment
Reading: How Do Microphones Work?
(MUSIC 51 LEC A: MUSIC & COMPUTERS (04180))
due by 5pm
Tue Oct 12, 2021
Quiz
Compression and Rarefaction
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Sound Is Air?
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
What is a Sound? Part 1a
due by 12:30pm
Thu Oct 14, 2021
Quiz
Basilar Membrane
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Digital Audio Quantization and Error Video
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Middle and Inner Ear
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
One Neuron?
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
What is a Sound? Part 1b
due by 12:30pm
Fri Oct 15, 2021
Assignment
Discussion Section Attendance Week 3
due by 2pm
Tue Oct 19, 2021
Quiz
Neural Impulses
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Why So Many?
due by 12:30pm
Thu Oct 21, 2021
Assignment
Reading: Vibrations to Volts to Bits
due by 12:30pm
Fri Oct 22, 2021
Assignment
Discussion Section Attendance Week 4
due by 2pm
Assignment
Rhythm Project
due by 5pm
Assignment
Rhythm Project Screenshot
due by 8pm
Tue Oct 26, 2021
Quiz
Quiz on Digital Audio (and More)
due by 12:30pm
Thu Oct 28, 2021
Quiz
Midterm Course Survey
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Quiz on Digital Audio (and More)
(4 students)
due by 12:30pm
Fri Oct 29, 2021
Assignment
Discussion Section Attendance Week 5
due by 2pm
Tue Nov 2, 2021
Quiz
A440
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Generate Tone
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Geometric Waves
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Period and Frequency
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Rhythm Projects Listening
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Simple Harmonic Motion
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
What is a Sound? Part 2
due by 12:30pm
Thu Nov 4, 2021
Assignment
Reading: Compression
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
Reading: Audio Effects
due by 1:30pm
Fri Nov 5, 2021
Assignment
Discussion Section Attendance Week 6
due by 2pm
Sat Nov 6, 2021
Assignment
Reading: Compression
(MUSIC 51 LEC A: MUSIC & COMPUTERS (04180))
due by 3pm
Sun Nov 7, 2021
Assignment
Reading: Vibrations to Volts to Bits
(MUSIC 51 LEC A: MUSIC & COMPUTERS (04180))
due by 3pm
Tue Nov 9, 2021
Assignment
Create Sawtooth or Square Wave
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
EQ and Dynamic Effects
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Harmonics Peak Amplitudes
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Harmonics Square Wave
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
More Harmonics
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
Reading: Equalization (EQ)
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
What is a Sound? Part 3a
due by 12:30pm
Wed Nov 10, 2021
Assignment
Reading: Equalization (EQ)
(MUSIC 51 LEC A: MUSIC & COMPUTERS (04180))
due by 9am
Fri Nov 12, 2021
Assignment
Discussion Section Attendance Week 7
due by 2pm
Assignment
Creative Project (Part 1)
due by 5pm
Assignment
Creative Project #1 Screenshot
due by 8pm
Thu Nov 18, 2021
Quiz
Frequency Domain
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Geometric Wave Frequency Domain
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Pitch
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Real Life Sounds
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
What is a Sound? Part 3b
due by 12:30pm
Fri Nov 19, 2021
Assignment
Discussion Section Attendance Week 8
due by 2pm
Tue Nov 23, 2021
Quiz
Control Change Message
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
From Nov 18, 2021 Class
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
Introduction to MIDI Part 1
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
MIDI Channel Voice Message Structure
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Note On and Note Off Messages
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Pitch Bend Message
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Program Change Message
due by 12:30pm
Thu Nov 25, 2021
Quiz
Creative Projects Listening
due by 1:30pm
Tue Nov 30, 2021
Quiz
GM 1 Sound Set
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
Introduction to MIDI Part 2
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
MIDI Channel Voice Messages and Timbres
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
SMF Header
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
SMF Types
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Timbre
due by 12:30pm
Quiz
Time in MIDI
due by 12:30pm
Thu Dec 2, 2021
Assignment
ADSR
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
Telharmonium
due by 12:30pm
Assignment
Reading: Tutorial on MIDI and Music Synthesis
due by 1:30pm
Fri Dec 3, 2021
Assignment
Discussion Section Attendance Week 10
due by 2pm
Assignment
Creative Project #2 Screenshot
due by 8pm
Mon Dec 6, 2021
Quiz
ADSR
due by 12pm
Assignment
Creative Project (Part 2)
due by 12pm
Sat Dec 11, 2021
Quiz
Quiz on MIDI (and More)
due by 5pm
Tue Dec 14, 2021
Quiz
Quiz on MIDI (and More)
(3 students)
due by 12pm
Fri Dec 31, 2021
Quiz
Quiz on MIDI (and More)
(1 student)
due by 5pm
Assignment
Bonus Points for Week 0-2 Attendance
Quiz
Extra Credit Quiz on Digital Audio (and More)
Assignment
Extra Credit: Boomy and Week 8 Friday Discussion Section Attendance
Assignment
Extra Credit: Concert (Curie, Curie)
Assignment
Extra Credit: Concert (Elder Ones)
Assignment
Extra Credit: Pre-Concert Talk (Elder Ones)
Assignment
Extra Points from 2nd Quiz on Digital Audio (and More)