Syllabus

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Course Meeting Times

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session

Course Description

This course deals with the structure of sound, and how sounds can be organized in time. The computer will be used as a tool to explore these and related issues. Through in-class performance, various ways of organizing sonic events in time will be investigated. The focus of written assignments will be to develop musical ideas and notation methods that effectively transmit them to performers.

There is no prerequisite for this general elective class. All musical backgrounds are welcomed, including students without prior musical training.

This is not the class for you if you want to learn the following in depth:

• How to read music: instead, try 21M.051 Fundamentals of Music (see version in MIT OpenCourseWare)
• Western music literature: instead, try 21M.011 Introduction to Western Music (see version in MIT OpenCourseWare)
• Music theory: instead, try 21M.301 Harmony and Counterpoint I (see version in MIT OpenCourseWare)
• Jazz: instead, try 21M.026 Jazz
• How to read and write lead sheets: instead, try 21M.340 Jazz Harmony and Arranging
• World music: instead, try 21M.030 Introduction to World Music  (see version in MIT OpenCourseWare)
• Electronic music: instead: try 21M.361 Electronic Music Composition I (see version in MIT OpenCourseWare)

This is the class for you if you want to be creative with sound and performance. We will be experimenting with the fundaments of music making. Our inquiry will examine music from all time periods, as well as all cultures and regions. Nothing is assumed!

Requirements

This is a HASS-D undergraduate subject. In addition to some written papers and responses, you will also be writing music. All music that you write will be performed in-class by your fellow students. In addition to you composition assignments, you will also have frequent reading and listening assignments. For each reading/listening assignment, you will be required to email a one-page response to me before the next class.

The final project/exam will be a significant composition, to be assigned later in the semester. This composition will be performed during the scheduled final exam time.

Late assignments will not be accepted.

Attendance is mandatory. You will be performing in almost every class. Not attending class will be disrespectful to your classmates.

Topics

• Collective Music Making
• Sound and Music
• Soundwalk
• Improvisation
• Visualizing Music
• Notation
• Context
• Text
• Voice
• Instruments
• Texture
• Rhythm
• Melody
• Solos
• Duos
• Groups

Guest Lectures

Guest lectures may cover such topics as:

• Chant and early music
• Indonesian music and gamelan
• Jazz and improvisation
• Indian/Hindustani music
• West African music
• Writing for piano
• Electronic music

Grading

Calendar