MI 3150 Syllabus

Professor: Robert S. Thompson, Ph.D.

114 Standard Building

Office Phone:	404-651-1731
E-Mail:	rst@aucourantrecords.com
FAX:	770-640-9714

SUMMER SEMESTER: 2001

Office Hours: M / W 12:30 – 1:30, or by appointment...

Introduction to Electroacoustic Music

A Survey of History, Ideas and Sounds

Center for Audio Recording Arts (CARA)

School of Music, Georgia State University

MI 3150 - M/W 1:50 P.M. to 3:35 P.M., 1100 Standard (CARA Studio A)

Prerequisites: none.

Texts and materials:

Electric Sound - The Past and Promise of Electronic Music, Joel Chadabe, Prentice Hall ISBN 0-13-303231-0

CDROM I and CDROM II: MI 3150 - Provided

Course web pages:

As with all of the courses in CARA, there is an associated web page for this course. This page is an important resource for your study as well. Much of its content is also found on the CDROM provided as study material for this and other audio technology courses.

http://cara.gsu.edu/courses/mi3150/index.htm

Course aim: This seminar will introduce the history, literature, concepts, composers and music loosely referred to as "electronic music." It is interesting to note that while electronic music has been perhaps the dominant innovation in music in the second half of the 20th century, and is an art/technology which has been in development since well before the turn of the century, there is little integration of this repertoire into typical music history classes. Since electronic music has had an undeniable impact on commercial music styles, and the art/science of audio recording, it is an important study for those interested in these fields. Furthermore, electronic music is perhaps the most innovative and refreshing music of our time. This course will provide an overview and foray into a vast reservoir of music, composers, instruments and techniques, and will provide an aesthetic and historiographic orientation that will enable further serious study and exploration.

Learning objectives and general topics to be covered:

major technological innovations	major aesthetic trends	major composers
major schools of thought and practice	major representative works	new contemporary trends
electronic music in the context of contemporary art	electronic music and futurism	popular music

Assignments and Grading Policy:

In addition to the MIDTERM and FINAL examinations, which will be provided on the WEB to save class time for lecture, listening and discussion, a research paper of moderate length on a topic appropriate to this course will be required.

MIDTERM EXAM: 25% (given online)

FINAL EXAM: 25% (given online)

RESEARCH PAPER: 25%

ATTENDANCE and CLASS-DISCUSSION PARTICIPATION: 25%

Attendance: According to GSU academic policies, after 4 unexcused absences the professor reserves the right to drop a student from the course. Attendance and class participation is highly encouraged.

MI 3150 - SUMMER 2001

TASK ONE

To be completed prior to 2nd class meeting.

1. Write me an E-mail message. If you do not have an E-mail account get one and then write me a message.

Include the following information in your message:

a. Name, address and phone number.

b. Brief description of your career at GSU thus far.

c. Detailed statement concerning your goals and objectives in general.

2. Peruse the MI3150 webpages by following this URL:

http://cara.gsu.edu/courses/mi3150/index.htm

a. Make an informal list of what kinds of things are included there.

b. Follow one or two of the links to see where you end up.

3. Print out any page from website for this course or one of the links you visit. Make sure it is dated and has a time-stamp (the print algorithm of the web browser will usually provide this info). Bring it to class with you.

Note:

This assignment must be completed prior to the end of the 2nd class meeting for credit.

The School of Music CAI closed for renovation this summer. However, other campus computer facilities are open. Reserve materials in the form of audio recordings will be available on in the library Media Center.