Nazareth College Department of Music
Studies in Applied Music:   Electronic Music

Course Number(s):
MUP*1S*01 — MUP*2S*01 — MUP*3S*01 — MUP*4S*01

Instructor:   Jonathan J. Turner, Ph.D.
E-mail: jturner9@naz.edu
Telephone: 585-389-2700 (Music Department office)

Room and Building:
Room A-81 (Electronic Studio),
Wilmot Arts Center

Meeting Times & Attendance:
One 50-minute lesson per week will be scheduled individually per semester, before classes begin. Other times, for special presentations or studio recitals, will be arranged per semester. For policy on attendance, see Grades (below).

Projected Time Requirements:
All students are required to spend one hour every day, with one day off per week; also, the lesson counts as one of those hours, too. This leaves a minimum expectation of 5 hours per week outside of class (including two sign-up hours in the studio), to complete overall course requirements and make satisfactory progress.

Print this syllabus: MUP1S01_Syllabus.pdf (88 KB PDF)

Course Description:

Private study in electronic music is offered by the Music Department. This course is similar in approach to MUP*1Q*01 (composition), but the focus is on electronic media and techniques, as well as composition. The course provides an opportunity for students to incorporate electronic music techniques into their composing skills, to study the history and styles associated with electronic music in the Twentieth Century, and receive constructive feedback and evaluation on their assignments and studio projects. Designed for Music Department students, the course assumes an appropriate musical background; but, qualified non-majors may also enroll with the permission of the instructor. Class work will consist of, but not be limited to:

Original creative music projects:

Students will design and work on at least one substantial composition project each semester, with progress monitored by the instructor in the weekly lessons. It is reasonable to expect a prepared student to take such a project, amounting to 3-10 minutes of original music, from conception through composition to completion within one semester: the student will invest one credit-hour of required labor; then, in addition to the academic credit, the student should finish the semester with at least one new musical work of their own authorship for their respective composition portfolios.

Practical assignments, exercises, and drills:

The instructor will assign specific exercises within circumscribed musical limits, for example, using certain pitch sets, forms, or models, or setting specified texts. These assignments will help the student's facility in employing a range of technical resources. A list of websites devoted to electronic music topics is available on Dr. Turner's Links web page.

Directed study related to electronic music issues:

musical properties of sound, sound recording and reproduction, analog and digital representations, MIDI, Csound, proper electronic studio techniques and housekeeping, use of voice and text with electronic music, practical electronic synthesis, uses of common music software, equipment maintainance, magnetic tape techniques and other topics.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Any student in need of special accommodations should present me with official notice from the Office for Students with Disabilities. If you have any questions about this, please ask me.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic Integrity is essential to the educational Mission of Nazareth College; for the free pursuit of knowledge and understanding is seriously impeded by any form of academic dishonesty. Hence, no form of academic dishonesty will be condoned by the college. Academic dishonesty is understood as any act of deceit bearing on one's own or another's academic work, where "academic work" is understood to mean any activity pertaining to the educational mission of the college. Such acts include, but are not limited to, plagiarism in any form and the use during an exam of information or materials not authorized by the instructor for such use.

STATEMENT OF RESPECT AND DIVERSITY
We, the Nazareth community, embrace both respect for the person and freedom of speech. The College promotes civility and denounces acts of hatred or intolerance. The free exchange of ideas is possible only when concepts, values and viewpoints can be expressed and challenged in a manner that is neither threatening nor demeaning.

It is the policy of Nazareth College, in keeping with its efforts to foster a community in which the diversity of all members is respected, not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, marital or veteran status, disability, carrier status, genetic predisposition or any other protected status. Respect for the dignity of all peoples is an essential part of the College's tradition and mission, and its vision for the future.