Module MUSI44230: Studies in Electronic Music

Department: Music

MUSI44230: Studies in Electronic Music

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To facilitate student research into the domain of electronic music, encouraging creativity and critical independence.
• To enhance the ability of students to reflect conceptually on electronic musical material, forms, and performances.
• To develop understanding of the relationship of music and technology with respect to the developing research frontier in electronic music.
• To foster graduate attributes in creativity, intellectual courage and rigour

Content

• This module explores the varied world of electronic music, up to recent developments in music created with laptops and smartphones through standalone apps, web browsers, and AI technology.
• As well as critical discussion of electronic music practices, students will have chance to take part in practical electronic music activities such as live coding and circuit bending.
• Topics will include electronic musical instruments, live performance of electronic music, history and analysis of electronic and computer music, DIY electronic music making, music software and AI music.
• Students will have chance to explore many musical movements within electronic music, including both historic work and more contemporary practices. Stylistic areas encountered will include electroacoustic art music, synth pop and electronic dance music, experimental electronica such as ambient, glitch, and noise, jazz and improvisation with electronics, and sound art.
• Assessment will involve the completion of a research project in electronic music, which may range from a critically informed performance or composition to a study of a particular part of the electronic music repertoire.

Learning Outcomes

• Familiarity with historical and theoretical perspectives on electronic music, as well as the range of practical approaches to its creation.
• Understanding the factors impacting on electronic music production and performance such as technology, compositional and performance planning and the associated contemporary and historical context.

• After taking the module, students will be able to demonstrate critical evaluation of their own and others’ electronic music.
• They will gain practical skills in computer music, through exposure and training within software such as Spear, SuperCollider and Strudel, as well as encountering additional assorted practices in electronic music such as hardware hacking.

• The module will establish theoretical understanding of electronic music, while developing practical skills in the creation of the same.
• The module will reinforce flexible and creative IT skills and critical self-awareness.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Core theoretical teaching will be delivered in fortnightly seminars.
• These sessions will include workshop opportunities which develop hands-on experience with computer music software and other relevant practical techniques, and give opportunities for critical reflection.
• Students will be offered a small group tutorial per term which will be organised directly between tutor and students, and not centrally timetabled. These sessions are optional and will not count towards the teaching hours of the module.
• Students will work towards a final research project in the form of an extended essay, or in the form of a critical commentary and practice-based component. The latter would be submitted as an audio/video recorded live performance or studio composition (the submitted work(s) to be agreed in advance with the module leader)

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Students will work in groups to present formative exercises on historical electronic music to the class, for critical discussion, and to provide examples of contextualizing their own work. By the middle of the second term, students will present their research project in class for early feedback and discussion.

■ Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.