Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Department of Music
MUS 230
Introduction to Music Technology
Approved by Department: November 4, 2003
Course Description
This course will present the student with an investigation into the equipment and materials available in
current trends in music technology. Information presented in the course will relate to the practicing musician as well
as music teachers. The course will cover the technique and creative process of incorporating music technology into
the school curriculum to meet current standards, and the methods of adapting music technology to various classroom
and ensemble settings.
Prerequisite:
MUS 102 Harmony & Theory I or permission of the instructor.
3 Clock hours, 3 Semester Credit hours.
Course Objectives
The student will be able to:
1. demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the various components of music technology that are
available.
2. incorporate music technology into the school music curriculum to meet current required standards.
3. apply the aesthetic and technical considerations inherent in coordinating music technology into various
classroom and ensemble settings.
Course Outline
1) PEOPLE AND PROCEDURES.
a)
The Importance of People
b) Technology as a Musical Tool
c)
Misconceptions and Attitudes
i)
10 Misconceptions About Music Technology
ii) Resulting Attitudes
2) PROCEDURES AND APPLICATIONS
a)
Historical Timeline
b) Your Stereo System
i)
The Red Wire Goes Where?
ii) CD’s Don’t Skip
iii) 5.1, 6.1 and the Virtual Recording
c)
Computer Applications
i)
Buy-and-Run
ii) Fill-Your-Own
iii) Roll-Your-Own
d) Finding Help
i)
People with Technical Skills
ii) Computer Facilities
iii) Print and Non-print Materials
3) YOUR COMPUTER AND THE INTERNET
a)
Operating System Software and Hardware
b) GUI and Practicing Safe Computing
c)
Software for Communication
d) Data Structures for Computers and Networking
e)
The Mechanics of Computers and Networking
4) COMPUTER-ASSISTED INSTRUCTION IN MUSIC
a)
Instructional Software for Musicians
i)
Drills to Thrills
(1) Toward More Realistic Music Experiences
(2) Guided Instruction
(3) Games
(4) Exploratory
(5) Creative Software
ii) What to Choose: Content vs. Need
b) Acoustics Primer
c)
Data Structures for Digital Audio and MIDI
d) Hardware Devices for Music CAI
5) DESKTOP PUBLISHING FOR MUSICIANS
a)
Software for Desktop Publishing and Graphics
b) Data Structures for Desktop Publishing and Graphics
c)
Hardware Devices for Music Publishing
6) MUSIC NOTATION
a)
Music Notation Software
b) Data Structures and Coding Music Notation and Performance
c)
Input Devices for Music Notation
7) MUSIC SEQUENCING AND MIDI
a)
Software for Music Sequencing
b) MIDI Data Structures Revisited
c)
MIDI Hardware
i)
The MIDI KISS System
ii) Enhancing the MIDI KISS System
8) CREATING SOUNDS AND MUSIC WITH DIGITAL AUDIO
a)
Software for Capturing, Editing, and Organizing Digital Sounds
b) Digital Audio Data Structures Revisited
c)
Data Structures for Laser Audio and Video
d) Hardware for a Digital Audio Workstation
9) AUTHORING SYSTEMS AND MULTIMEDIA
a)
Authoring and Multimedia Software
b) Data Structures for Authoring in Web and Multimedia Environments
c)
Multimedia Hardware
Assessment
Assessment of each student’s level of accomplishment with reference to the course objectives will be based upon the
following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
exams over written material
evaluation of technical ability with audio equipment
evaluation of instructional materials prepared by student
evaluation of computer aided instruction materials prepared by student
evaluation of participation
Textbook
Williams, David and Peter Webster. Experiencing Music Technology, 2nd ed. New York: Schirmer Books, 1999.
Instructional Resources
Borwick, John, ed. Sound Recording Practice, 4th ed. New York: Association of Professional Recording Services, Oxford
University Press on Demand, 1996.
Chadabe, Joel. Electric Sound: The Past and Promise of Electronic Music. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1996.
Davis, Gary and Ralph Jones. Sound Reinforcement Handbook, 2nd ed. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Publishing
Corporation, 1990.
Everest, F. Alton. Master Handbook of Acoustics, 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics, 2000.
Harley, Robert and Keith Jarrett. The Complete Guide to High-End Audio, 2nd ed. Sarasota, FL: Acappella Publishers,
1998.
Huber, David and Philip Williams. Professional Microphone Techniques. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Publishing
Corporation, 1999.
Kirk, Ross and Andy Hunt. Digital Sound Processing for Music and Multimedia (Music Technology Series). Burlington
MA: Focal Press, 1999.
Lee, Iara and Peter Shapiro. Modulations: A History of Electronic Music: Throbbing Words on Sound. New York:
Distributed Art Publishers, 2000.
Moscal, Tony. Sound Check: The Basics of Sound and Sound Systems. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Publishing
Corporation, 1994.
Owsinski, Bobby. The Mixing Engineer's Handbook. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 1999.
Pellman, Sam. An Introduction to the Creation of Electroacoustic Music. New York: Wadsworth Pub Co, 1994.
Roads, Curtis. The Computer Music Tutorial. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1996.
Rowe, Robert. Machine Musicianship. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2001.
Rozenblit, Bruce, Karla Schiller and John Summers. Audio Reality: Myths Debunked Truths Revealed. Kansas City, MO:
Transcendent Sound Inc, 1999.
Stark, Scott. Live Sound Reinforcement: A Comprehensive Guide to P.A. and Music Reinforcement Systems and Technology,
2nd ed. Lewiston, NY: Mix Bookshelf/ Mix Books, 1996.
Starrett, Robert and Joshua McDaniel. The Little Audio CD Book. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press, 2000.
Taylor, Timothy. Strange Sounds: Music, Technology and Culture. London: Routledge, 2002.
Theberge, Paul. Any Sound You Can Imagine: Making Music/Consuming Technology (Music/Culture). Middletown, CT:
Wesleyan University Press, 1997.
Watkinson, John. Art of Digital Audio, 3rd ed. Burlington MA: Focal Press, 2001.
White, Ira. Audio Made Easy: (Or How to Be a Sound Engineer Without Really Trying), 2nd ed. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard
Publishing Corporation, 1997.
Yakabuski, Jim. Professional Sound Reinforcement Techniques: Tips and Tricks of a Concert Sound Engineer.
Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 2001.