Fall 2008 offerings in Music Technology

MUSI 295 - Introduction to Electronic Music
Monday, Wednesday 1:00-2:15
Prerequisite: familiarity with music notation. Enrollment limited to 30.

MUSI 325 - Fundamentals of Music, Multimedia, Art & Technology
Tuesday 1:30-3:20
Prerequisite: MUSI 210a or b or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 20.

Should I take MUSI 295 or MUSI 325?

First please take note of the required pre-requisites for each course. MUSI 325 requires MUSI 210a/b or the demonstration of equivalent experience (210a entails a study of tonal harmony, form, and counterpoint).

If you are a music major you should take MUSI 325. If you are a non-major and have a more informal music background you should take MUSI 295.

If you are a Computing in the Arts major (or are interested in the major) you must take MUSI 325. See http://graphics.cs.yale.edu/comparts.html for more information about this new major. If you are interested in Computing in the Arts, be sure to attend an informational meeting for at 3-4 pm on Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 51 Prospect Street (AK Watson Hall).

What are the differences between MUSI 295 and MUSI 325?

Both courses offer a grounding in the basic techniques of creating music with current software tools. Both courses will cover digital audio, MIDI, synthesis and sequencing.

MUSI 325 is a more advanced course and will involve more theoretical discussion of acoustics, psychoacoustics, digital audio, sound reproduction, and the MIDI protocol. MUSI 325 will also include some work with video and animation.

Neither course focuses on a historical survey of the electronic music, however, some important electroacoustic music repertoire will be covered. The electronic music literature will be discussed in MUSI 466.

MUSI 295 makes a special focus on popular styles of electronic music including electronic music, trance, hip-hop, ambient, house, techno, and trip-hop.

MUSI 325 will involve an investigation of more experimental genres. Assignments in MUSI 325 will encourage you to explore broader horizons of what might constitute a musical experience. If you are not open minded to unfamiliar music or if your primary interest is in popular styles of electronic music, MUSI 295 is a more appropriate course.

If MUSI 295 is the best course for you now, you are more than welcome to then take MUSI 325 in fall, 2009. If your only interest is in recording engineering, neither course may be entirely appropriate for your interests.

I still don't know which course to take!?

Come and shop both courses. Feel free to contact Prof. Klingbeil at michael.klingbeil@yale.edu if you have specific questions.