MUS 184

MIDI Special Topics/Composition

 

• MUS 184 has two main areas of focus – one is composition and the other is music technology.  Students are encouraged to participate in both aspects of the class.

 

• Students are expected to compose at least one substantial musical composition, a series of shorter compositions , and/or create synthetic/MIDI renditions of existing pieces. 

 

• All students are expected to participate in the mid-semester Expo performance (10/18) and in the end-of-the-semester concert (12/6).

 

• Three lab hours per week are required, and more are recommended.

 

 

SUGGESTED READING:

 

Persichetti, Vincent.  Twentieth Century Harmony.  W.W. Norton and Company.

 

Edstrom, Brent.   Making Music With Your Computer, Second Edition. EM Books, 2001, (artistpro.com) LLC).  ISBN 0-87288-744-8.

 

Dodge, Charles and Thomas A. Jerse.  Computer Music: Synthesis, Composition and Performance.  Second edition.  New York: Macmillan Library, 1997.

 

 

 

This class is intended to be equal parts fun and hard work.  You may work with me on an individually designed project (such as scoring music for a video game, for example), or do a traditional composition project.  Your grade is based on attendance, completed lab hours, effort, general participation and regular completion of work, and participation in the concerts.

 

Week 1

Introduction

 

Week 2

Melody to go with a film, poem, lyrics, book, dance, or video game.

 

Week 3

Introduction to scale materials

 

Week 4

Use of leitmotivs in music

 

Week 5

Introduction to intervals

 

Week 6

Preparation for Expo performance

 

Week 7

Preparation for Expo performance

 

Week 8

Theme and variations

 

Week 9

Chord construction and progression

 

Week 10

Chord construction and progression continued

 

Week 11

Composition using an ostinato

 

Week 12

Scale materials revisited

 

Week 13

Preparation for concert

 

Week 14

Preparation for concert

 

Week 15

Work on final projects

 

Week 16

Work on final projects