Syllabus

Each project will occur over a 3 class block:

1. introduction / technical workshop
2. short concept presentations / work day (individual and group help)
3. finished piece presentation and group critique

Instructor prerogative: A minimum of 1 project should contain a performative element.

The content of each piece is left up to the student. Peer critique sessions will include feedback on all aspects of the concept and finished piece, however grading is focused objectively on successful completion of assignments.

Note: This is not a "deep dive" into the nuts and bolts of spatialization algorithms or building your own engine, the goal of this class is to make and present work. Learn by doing.

Concept Presentations

As part of the 3 class block rhythm, you will be expected to develop and present the concept for each project in a short presentation. This doesn't have to be a finished concept but, at minimum, an indication of where you are and where you could imagine going by the time you present a finished piece.

• a minimum of 5 slides, max 20 seconds for each slide (Pecha Kucha) style)
• include some or all of the following:
  • background research
  • idea overview (what)
  • motivation (why)
  • implementation (how)
  • possible challenges foreseen
  • audience considerations
  • any open questions you may have to the group, ie. "I want to do A and haven't done it before. Anyone have experience with this?"
• slides do not have to be perfect, focus on what you can get across quickly
• you do not need to have a draft or proof-of-concept sound file, only if you think this would be helpful

Start thinking early enough, don't do this the night before. If you can't explain it "kurzgesagt" then the idea needs work.

Note: If you change your concept over the course of creating the piece, this is fine. Just make sure to note and justify this during your finished piece presentation.

Critique Sessions

Group critique sessions will be conducted for both concept presentations and finished piece presentations. The focus is on providing honest, useful feedback as opposed to vague, supportive affirmations. Subjective bias or perspectives are to be noted while giving feedback and the receiver controls the flow during a session, not those giving critique. There is trust involved but don't worry, we will work on this together.

To facilitate this process, feedback can be given both verbal and collected in text form anonymously via a shared text document.

Work Days

The "work day" is the part of class after the concept presentations. This is an important time to sit and work together while collectively solving problems. If you are having issues, now is the time to seek help from both the instructor and your peers.

Project Presentations

At the end of each 3 class block, you will present your finished piece.

As the composer, you are to decide which mode of presentation works best for your project, so consider if you have any special requiremnts to perform the peice, siuch as different location, lighting, audience instruction / participation, etc. Please communicate any such requirements ahead of time, if possible.

Instructor grading is focused on objective implementation: did you do the work and can you justify your decisions / motivation. If you have problems, please consider a Plan B instead of a broken or incomplete Plan A. In the "real works" things do not always go as planned, so find workarounds and new options to deliver a finished piece.