Computer Music: Design/Perform: Policies
Work in this course takes two forms: exercises and projects. Exercises are short tasks that focus on a technical issue or help you to understand theoretical material. These are graded pass/fail. Projects are larger creative products. These receive a letter grade and weigh more than exercises.
Most of your work must be completed in M373, though you can often accomplish a lot using the two “advanced workstation” Macs on the same floor of the Music Library as M373 (in the row of Macs furthest from Jordan Ave). Other Macs outside M373 do not have authorizations for all the software we use.
You can work in M373 any time the library is open (see hours) and there is not a class in session (see the room schedule).
There will be some time set aside during class for individual work, with help from the instructor. But do not assume that working only during class time will be sufficient. You must work outside of class in order to do well.
During class, I also expect you not to sleep, browse Facebook, study for other courses, or send/receive cell phone calls, text messages, instant messages, etc. Please make a habit of directing your attention away from the computer and toward me when I’m talking, or toward whoever is talking during discussions. Do not look at your screen or type while we’re playing music or watching video clips.
You will be given a class participation grade that reflects these concerns, as well as your attendance (see below).
Being consistently late to class, or leaving class early without a good reason, also will affect your grade.
There is no way to make up for unexcused absences. I do not offer extra credit assignments.
Interesting work with solid production values cannot be accomplished during a few hours. It takes sustained effort over many days, as you work with sound materials, experiment with layering and patterning, mix carefully and attend to all the details that make music sound lively and convincing. I will expect this degree of effort from you as a condition for earning a good grade.
Course work handed in after the due date may be assessed a late penalty.
The exercises are graded pass/fail. Each failing exercise will lower your final course grade by 5 points.
Project 1 20% Project 2 20% Project 3 20% Final Project 20% Class Participation 20%
Computer files are fragile things, and working successfully with them means backing up frequently to several types of media (USB drive, our server, etc.) You should have multiple versions of every file you're working on. You should have at least two recent copies of anything irreplaceable. At least one copy should reside off of our server, in case it explodes. Doing this is a critical part of making music (or doing anything else) with computers.
Keeping this in mind, catastrophic loss of files is not an acceptable excuse for a late project!
We will also be using a file server to store your work, but do not rely on this as your only backup media!
Headphones are required for work in the lab. Headphones are provided at some workstations, but I urge you to get your own set. You can buy headphones at Best Buy or a similar store; try them on and listen to them before buying. You want something comfortable. For the best isolation from noise in the room, get a “closed circumaural” design, rather than an “open” design. Your headphones must have a 1/4" plug (or 1/8"-to-1/4" adapter). For example, the Sony MDR 7506 is a decent-sounding, rugged, and portable headphone.
If you forget your headphones, and the ones at your station are missing or broken, you can check out a set with your student ID at the Music Library Circulation Desk (on the first floor).