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Course Syllabus

MUSC 4750 Electronic Music

  • Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
  • Department: Music
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 2; Lecture: 1; Lab: 1
  • Prerequisites: MUSC 3350 Audio Fundamentals I
  • Semesters Offered: Spring
  • Semester Approved: Spring 2025
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2029
  • End Semester: Fall 2030
  • Optimum Class Size: 16
  • Maximum Class Size: 16

Course Description

This course is a study of the history and development of electronic music through the technological advances of synthesis, sampling and MIDI. It also focuses on developing an understanding of how sound is created through the various forms of synthesis and how sound is manipulated through tools like envelopes, LFOs, and filters. The course also covers audio sampling, advanced uses of MIDI, and how to channel all of these skills towards producing commercially viable music.

Justification

This course is designed to serve the needs of students who wish to focus on the music production advisement track of the bachelor of music degree. Many institutions offer courses like this as part of the curriculum of commercially focused music degrees.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the history of synthesized sound.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of the various methods of sound synthesis.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of digital and analog hardware synthesizers and software synthesizers.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of what each knob or parameter does on any synthesizer.
  5. Be able to deconstruct, analyze and recreate sounds used in commercial productions.
  6. Be able to create a sampled instruments and use existing audio material in a production.

Course Content

Some of the projects are variable in order to cater to the diverse backgrounds and musical tastes of students, but other projects are be presented to push students out of their comfort zones and into new and exotic styles and genres. The following topics are covered:Behavior of soundHistory of SynthesisHistory of MIDIDevelopment of Electronic MusicControllersAnalog and Digital SynthesizersTypes of SynthesisOscillators, Envelopes, Filters, LFOs, etc.Time-Based EffectsAdvanced MIDI FunctionsAudio SamplingSynthesis in Contemporary Music