Music Technology Courses
This course will provide hands-on experience recording, editing and mixing digital audio. Pro Tools and Digital Performer will be the primary software programs used on the Macintosh computer platform. The student will work with files that contain spoken work, sound effects and music files. In addition the student will be given the opportunity to work with audio files and QuickTime movie files. Students should be prepared to spend lab time out of class. For CAT majors only.
Group instruction offered in the electronic piano lab for students who have had no previous piano training. The emphasis will be on playing simple pieces, reading, basic keyboard harmony and elementary keyboard technique.
A continuation of CAT 191.
The fundamentals of music including: notation, intervals, scales and chords are explored. Emphasis is placed on demonstrating the results of study realized through the successful completion of projects designed to exhibit the students’ understanding of the topics presented. The following software packages will be used: Pro Tools, Reason, Digital Performer and Finale.
A survey course designed to stimulate the interest in and understanding of the music of representative world cultures including: Native American, Sub-Sahara Africa, India and China. The focus will be on the comparison and contrast of both classic fold forms and more the contemporary forms as they continue to evolve and function in their individual cultures. The student is responsible for outside listening, research projects and field trips.
Explores the MIDI programming language as it applies to digital music production on the Macintosh system platform. Course content and projects are designed to aid students in establishing both a comprehensive and creative approach to computer music composition. Software applications include Reason, Live, Pro Tools and Logic.
Working in a critical and collaborative environment, students learn and put to use the fundamentals of sound recording. Acoustics, microphone usage, studio techniques, and advanced sequencing are stressed. Students achieve proficiency in equalization, compression and reverb. CAT 210 is a hands-on audio recording course which emphasizes, listening, creativity, and critical discourse around the past, present and future of recorded sound.
Focus on the musical ensemble skills associated with improvisation. Course will be participatory, and the bulk of the time in class will be spent playing music. Diverse cultural approaches to improvisation –African-American, South Indian, and European –will be explored. This course may be repeated for credit for a total of 3 semesters.
(Also CAT 224) Musical traditions brought to our country from abroad. The development of American musical culture from colonial times to the present, including a survey of African/American music from its tribal and colonial origins to the present. The sociological impact of jazz upon Western music and culture.
This course explores the history, theory and practice of collaborations between music and moving image artists. The major focus is on the works of the 20th century up to the present. Topics include music and film, video, and performance arts, exploring image-driven as well as music-driven works.
An in-depth study of the elements of the various styles of American music that were to become hip-hop. Includes examination of how to formulate hip-hop lyrics and beats. Hands-on experience with sequencing software, computers and samplers and opportunities to rhyme and free-style to beats made by class members will also be provided.
Through project-based work, students will learn the process of creating audio for multimedia productions including film television, games, and the web. Topics include recording, mixing, editing, foley, worldizing, and dialogue replacement. The class will also examine the interplay between sound design and music and how to successfully create scores and ambiences. Aesthetics as well as technology will be discussed throughout the semester, and at the end, students will compile a reel of their work.
A continuation of Elementary Chorus, the experience will provide the student basic choral participation enabling them to: develop the quality of their singing voice, match pitches in specific ranges, learn to follow a score of written music, improve their concentration, perform more complex harmonies and rhythms. The repertoire will include music from all periods from European classical to contemporary American popular styles. This course may be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: CAT 189.
Private instruction in piano, voice, other orchestral instruments such as trumpet, saxophone and guitar. At least one year of prior instruction on the selected instrument or the consent of the instructor is required. Enrollment on the basis of audition. This course may be repeated twice for a total of three semesters
Continuation of Studio Music I; course may be repeated twice for a total of three semesters.
Students will explore compositional techniques through a survey of strategies of various musical parameters, through analysis and original composition and production projects. Students will create original compositions and these will be critiqued in class and revised. Orchestration and arranging techniques will also be addressed.
A continuation of CAT 300, focusing on form and arrangement, including song form.
Working in a critical and collaborative environment students develop advanced recording projects and learn the art of mixing. Through focused listening, reading, discussion, group critique and disciplined studio practice, students begin to achieve professional quality in their work. Students learn advanced mixing techniques including customized effect, 3D listening, and precision editing. CAT 310 is a hands-on studio production course which emphasizes development of the ear, attention to detail, creativity, and critical discourse in sonic manipulation.
Exploration of the function, responsibilities and entitlements of an artist manager. Consideration of artist, producer, management contracts and master recording leases.Overview of the copyright law and how it applies to the arts. Application for copyright registration, mechanical and synchronization licenses, music publishing, performing rights organizations and the issue of public domain will also be discussed.
(Formerly CAT 321) Students lean the history, musical impact, and technical fundamentals of electronic music with an emphasis on analog synthesizers and their digital counterparts. Through directed listening, reading, and sonic experimentation, students become conversant in the history of electronic music and skillful in the exploration of sonic possibilities.
(Formerly CAT 351) This is a project based class, and can serve as a preparation for the capstone preparation. Students focus on creativity and logistics of an audio production, through process of classcritiques.
Working in a critical and collaborative environment students develop and complete a semester-long recording project of professional caliber. As a culmination of the DAE series, CAT 410 emphasizes project management, problem solving, originality and technical precision. Students direct the flow of the course which is tailored to meet the specific needs of their projects. Group critique, student-to-student feedback and collaboration are essential elements of the course. CAT 410 is a hands-on studio production course which serves as a bridge to a creative and professional working dynamic.