Syllabus
MUS384 Computer Skills in Music

EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

School of Music 

Syllabus for MUS 384: Computer Skills for Musicians, CRN 10295

2 Credit Hours 

Fall 2021

Instructor: Dr. Dennis Davis

 Office: Foster 112

 Office telephone: (859) 622-5007

 Email: dennis.davis@eku.edu 

Office hours: By appointment.

Catalog Description: MUS 384: Computer Skills for Musicians (2), I.II. This course will provide a systematic investigation of technology and software relevant to the field of music.

Prerequisite: MUS 182 and a junior classification in Music.

Course Rationale:

Music professionals, including educators, performers, merchandisers, and conductors, will need to use and understand music technology during their careers. This course provides a general overview of sound reinforcement and recording technology, music notation software, digital recording, MIDI sequencing, and music-specific web design.

Student Learning Outcomes:

KTS

CAEP

InTasc

ISTE

NASM

Students will acquire and apply Macintosh operating system skills. 

6.1, 6.2, 6.4

2, 3

Oc4b

Students will create and publish basic webpages with music-specific content.

1.1, 5.5, 6.4, 6.5

5, 8, 10

1, 2, 3, 4

Students will learn how to configure and operate a basic P.A. system.

6.2, 6.3

Oc4b

Students will learn and apply basic audio engineering techniques.

5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4

4, 6, 7

1, 2, 3

Oc4b

Students will learn and apply basic digital audio workstation (DAW) editing and mixing techniques.

6.2, 6.3, 6.4

4, 7

1, 2, 3

Oc4b

Students will sequence and perform music using MIDI technology.

6.2, 6.3, 6.4

4, 6, 7

1, 2, 3

Oc4b

Students will learn how to use music notation software and create musical scores.

2.4, 2.5, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4

4, 6, 7, 8

1, 2, 3

Od4, Od6

Students will acquire a requisite knowledge of the history of music technology.

Students will adapt selected assignments and assessments for use in other educational environments (K-12, Private Studio, Conference Presentations, etc.)

Students will acquire the expertise to use technology as an assessment tool.

Texts:

Assigned readings will come from a variety of sources and are available on Blackboard or on course reserve in the Music Library.

Evaluation Methods:

Students will be evaluated through projects, in-class learning assessments, and asynchronous and synchronous quizzes. Students will be assigned a variety of video, audio, and reading assignments. Announced and unannounced assessments will be given throughout the semester to evaluate the understanding and comprehension of the topics discussed in class and in the assignments. The percentage of each method of evaluation is indicated below:

Activity

Points

Mac OS & Survey Assessment

Covid Quiz

Ice Breaker

Google Sites & Web Design Quiz

Biography (BB Submission)

Résumé (BB Submission)

Résumé & Biography Quiz and Link to Landing Page (BB Submission)

History of Music Technology Wiki Entry Draft

History of Music Technology Wiki Entry Final Version

Finished Web Pages (5 pages X 20 pts. per page: 1. Landing, 2. Bio, 3. Résumé, 4. History of Music Technology Research Topic, and 5. MUS 384 Projects)

100

S.R.R.S. Terminology and Overview assessment in Blackboard

Audacity Quiz

Audacity Projects (History of Music Technology Wiki: 40 pts.; Eight mini-projects: 20 pts. each.)

200

GarageBand Original Composition (40 pts.) and GB Quiz (20 pts.)

iMovie History of Music Technology Topic: Video Podcast

GarageBand (MIDI Projects: Bach Chorale & Coates Audio Recording Session: 50 pts.)

GarageBand (MIDI Quiz: 20 pts.; Mixing & Dealing with Disasters Quiz: 15 pts.)

Sibelius Projects

Sibelius Quiz

110

Finale Projects

Finale Quiz

110

Final Exam: History of Music Technology

100

EDF 204 Compliance: Module adaption of selected assignments and assessments for use in other educational environments (K-12, Private Studio, Conference Presentations, etc.) and the use of technology in assessment evaluation and feedback (20 points per web page totalling 8 web pages with the required content).

160

Unannounced Assessments (if given, points will be added to the total points)

Total Points

(NB: all projects should be posted on your Google Sites. Failing to post projects will result in a failing grade for that Module. The following projects should be posted on your MUS 384 Projects web page and uploaded to our shared Google Drive folder: Audacity, Garageband, iMovie, and Notation.)

1220

Grading Scale:

All graded work will be given a numeric score. Those scores will be averaged to determine the final letter grade:

Percentage

Grade

Points

90-100%

1098 or Above

80-89%

976 - 1097

70-79%

854 - 975

60-69%

732 - 853

0-59%

731 or below

Student Progress:

Students will be able to monitor their progress in this course by a variety of means. Grades will be updated in Blackboard as assignments are completed. Students will also receive feedback about graded assessments during class.

Attendance:

Attendance is required and necessary for success in this class. Absences in this course are only excused if they are verifiable with proper written documentation and excused according to EKU policies. Students will be penalized 1% of their final letter grade each time that they are late and 3% for each unexcused absence. Five (5) unexcused absences will result in the automatic failure of this course. Decisions for excusing an unexcused absence or lateness that merits special consideration will not be made until the end of the semester, and only if it can be deemed that such special consideration is truly warranted.
If a student is absent, it is their responsibilityto contact the instructor about missed lecture material, handouts, assignments, or any other information that they missed from being absent. They should also ask classmates for a copy of their lecture notes.
All projects and assignments are due on the date given in the course schedule. Late work will not be accepted if the absence is unexcused. Planned absences that are excused by the School of Music and the University require the student to complete the work ahead of those absences.

Last Date to Drop this Course.

Syllabus Disability Accommodation Statement:

The University strives to make all learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you are registered with the EKU Center for Student Accessibility (CSA), please obtain your accommodation letters from the CSA, present them to the course instructor, and discuss the accommodations needed. If you believe you need an accommodation and are not registered with the CSA, please contact the office in 361 Whitlock Building by email at disserv@eku.edu or by telephone at (859) 622-2933. Upon individual request, this syllabus can be made available in an alternative format.

A student with a “disability” may be an individual with a physical or psychological impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, to include, but not limited to: seeing, hearing, communicating, interacting with others, learning, thinking, concentrating, sitting, standing, lifting, performing manual tasks, working. Additionally, pregnancy accompanied by a medical condition(s), which causes a similar substantial limitation, may also be considered under the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA).

Academic Integrity Statement: Students are advised the EKU’s Academic Integrity policy will strictly be enforced in this course. The Academic Integrity policy is available at www.academicintegrity.eku.edu. Question regarding the policy may be directed to the Office of Academic Integrity.

Official Email & Email Correspondence:

According to the EKU registrar: "Students who have not yet activated their EKU email account should do so ASAP and monitor that account regularly as it is an official means of communication between students and the university."

Smart Devices, Recording Devices, & Computer Etiquette in the Classroom:

Please power down your personal devices before class. Class disruptions caused by electronic devices will lower your final grade by one percentage point for each occurrence. Please warn me ahead of time if you think that you may need to take an urgent call. Please ask my permission if you wish to record my class. You are encouraged to use your LAB computer to take notes in this class, but if you are caught doing anything other than work for my class, such as browsing social media, checking email, or working on assignments for another class, your grade will be lowered by one percentage point for each occurrence. You may use your personal laptop or iPad to complete work for this course, but you are not allowed to do anything else on your personal device during this class (social media, checking email, and so forth).

Course Requirements:

As with the other sciences (chemistry, biology, physics, etc.), the study of music technology requires the regular use of a lab. You are expected to utilize the computer lab outside of regularly scheduled classes as much as necessary for the completion of required coursework.  
Computer access to Internet and email.  
USB-drives are required to archive your personal projects (16GB or larger preferred).  
Personal Headphones are required at every class or one final grade point will be deducted.
No text is required, but copies of tutorials and other items will be the responsibility of the  student.  
Understand that EKU retains the right to use, sell, or distribute any projects created during the  completion of this course.  
Please note that unexcused late assignments, if accepted, will be reduced by 25% for each day late. This is also applies to content that should have been posted to your website. All projects should be posted on your Google Site. Failing to post projects may result in a failing grade for that Module. ALL projects and submissions should also be uploaded to your EKU Google Drive MUS384 shared folder.

Course Schedule:

Date

Module Segment

Module No.

Activities & Requirements

08-17-21

Mac OS/Google Sites/Code of Conduct

1-2

Study the Mac OS and Google Sites video tutorials and begin the Google Sites Module.

08-19-21

Google Sites/Code of Conduct

Continue to study the Google Sites, begin the Web design video tutorials in this module and start your Google Site.

08-22-21

Ice Breaker, Assessments (MAC OS & Google Sites), Google site link, Rough Draft Google Website Templates are due by 11 p.m.

1-2

Take the Mac OS and Google Sites assessments in Blackboard. Complete your Ice Breaker, Create your Google site (share: add me as an editor), Submit your site link via BB, Create and publish the following (rough draft) templates anytime before 11 p.m.: 1) Landing, 2) Biography, 3) Resume, 4) Music Technology Projects, 5) History of Music Technology Research Topic, and 6) EDF Compliance. Finish your Technology Lab Code of Conduct webpage and publish it a subpage to your EDF Compliance main link. Your Technology Lab Code of Conduct page needs to be a finished product. Reminder: add me as an editor to your Google website and submit the link to your published Google Site through BB (see submission link in BB).

08-24-21

Google Sites: Resume & Biography

Study the Resume and Biography video tutorials. Read and study the supplemental documentation and begin projects.

08-26-21

Google Sites: Resume & Biography

Continue Resume and Biography assignments.

08-29-21

Resume and Bio assessment & submissions are due by 11 p.m.

Complete the Resume and Bio assessments and submissions. Add your content to your Biography and Resume web page templates. Continue finishing the content for your other web pages.

08-31-21

History of Music Technology

Copy the review questions into a Google doc, study the lecture video, and compile your answers to the questions for the exam. Home work: continue polishing your web pages.

09-02-21

History of Music Technology

Select a music history topic from the list provided, or an approved topic that you suggest. Use at least two peer-reviewed sources, start your rough-draft, and formulate two study questions, and know when your rough draft and final submissions are due (see below). Home work: continue polishing your web pages.

09-05-21

Google Sites (GS) webpages are due by 11 p.m.

Publish the revised versions of your web pages to date: 1) Landing Page, 2) Biography, 3) Resume, and 4) History of Music Technology Research Topic text entry. Your Music Technology Projects, History of Music Technology Research Topic (HMTRT), and EDF Compliance pages will be edited further as projects are completed in later modules. However, the Landing Page, Biography, Resume, and assignments to date for the History of Music Technology Research Topic page should be finished and published to their respective pages.

09-07-21

S.R.R.S.

(Sound Reinforcement & Recording Systems)

Terminology and Connections: Lecture, Discuss the Yorkville PDF. Study the tutorial videos.

09-09-21

S.R.R.S.

Demonstrate and use the PA in the LAB.

09-12-21

S.R.R.S. (Yorkville) and the Digital Audio and Computer assessments are due by 11 p.m.

History Wiki Rough Draft Due via BB by 11 p.m.

Complete the S.R.R.S. Terminology and Overview assessment in Blackboard. (History Wiki Rough-Draft Due via BB.)

09-14-21

Audacity

Study the following Audacity tutorial videos:

1) “Intro and Overview”

2) Speech & Background Music Mixing

3) Changing Speed-Tempo-Pitch

4) Reverb-Delay-Chorus

5) EQ & Compression

6) Audacity Tutorial-LAME MP3 Encoder

These processes will also be demonstrated in class. All of them can be completed in one hour, including exporting and posting. Remember to save all of your original files to Google drive. For Audacity, please create and use one folder on the desktop for all of the Audacity elements, including your exported files. When you finish for the day, simply drag that one folder to your repsective Google Drive folder to back it up. Remember: EKUIT periodically wipes the drives in our lab.

09-16-21

Audacity

Continue Audacity tutorials and begin projects.

09-19-21

The Mixing Assessment is due by 11 p.m.

History Wiki Final Draft Due and Assessment Questions with Answers are due via BB and on your Google webpage by 11 p.m.

You are encouraged to go ahead and export and post your first three Audacity projects: 1) Changing Speed 2) Tempo and 3) Pitch. Post the exported .mp3 files to the Audacity subpage of your Google Site Music Technology page. These are three separate files and embeds that should be three seperate files on your Google page with three separate text entries. Be sure to include a descriptive narrative above each embeded project so that the audience knows the point of the posting. These text entries should be around 150 words each. Define the process in general, explain the effect, and discuss the practical (real world) applications for each process. Do not forget to put the Audacity orginal files (folder and .aup files) into our shared GD folder. Post the original recording (mp3) segment first on your webpage, so that the audience may hear the unaltered version. Lastly, do not forget to post the History of Music Technology Final entry and Questions to Blackboard and post them on your History of Music Technology webpage. Be sure to properly cite your sources.

09-21-21

Audacity

Continue Audacity projects.

09-23-21

Audacity

Continue Audacity projects.

09-26-21

The Audacity submissions and Assessment are due by 11 p.m.

History of Technology Audio Podcast is due by 11 p.m.

The Audacity projects: 1) Changing Speed 2) Changing Tempo 3) Changing Pitch, 4) Reverb, 5) Delay, 6) Chorus, 7) EQ, and 8) Compression are worth 20 points each for a total of 120 points. See the "grade details" entry for separate grades.

Please remember: All projects should be posted on your Google site by the required due date also also in our shared Google Drive folder. Failing to post projects will result in a grade reduction for that Module (up to 30%), unless a separate grade column is dedicated to that project's website posting (for example, the Resume and Bio assignments). The following projects should be posted on your MUS 384 Music Technology Projects web page and uploaded to the proper Google Drive folders. So be sure you have separate G-Drive folders for your Audacity, Garageband, and Notation files.

The Wiki audio podcast of your History of Music Technology Research Topic is worth 40 pts and that grade is entered under that gradebook column. Post to Google sites: 1) Music History Research Topic Audio Podcast with background music and post the Music History Research Topic Audio Podcast with background music (by 11:00 p.m.) on your History of Music Technology Research Topic Webpage. 2) Post separate media embeds for: a) Changing Speed b) Changing Tempo c) Changing Pitch, d) Reverb, e) Delay, f) Chorus, g) EQ, and h) Compression. These submissions are worth 20 points each for a total of 160 points. As mentioned before, be sure to include a descriptive narrative for each embeded project, define and explain the effects used for each embed, and how you emulated or applied them in Audacity. Use appropriate images for these entries to enhance the elegance of the webpage. Complete the five question Audacity Assessment.

09-28-21

GarageBand

Study the GarageBand tutorial video and begin the GarageBand Original Composition and be gathering photos for your iMovie History of Music Technology Topic Video Podcast. You will have two GarageBand projects to complete (Original Composition and Bach Chorale Midi Sequence with recorded Audio). The original composition needs to have at least one track that was created manually (record yourself playing a software instrument). The Bach Chorale will feature your sampled sound as the software instrument. To backup a GB file, first save it and then navigate to: "Finder window>Music>GarageBand>yourproject.band." Once there, drag your .band file to your GarageBand Google Drive folder.

09-30-21

GarageBand

Continue GarageBand projects

10-05-21

GarageBand (MIDI & iMovie Module)

Begin iMovie History of Music Technology Topic Video Podcast and Continue GarageBand projects. The iMovie video podcast requires you to use your GarageBand original composition as the background music. Mix the audio tracks together in Audacity, normalize it, and then import it into iMovie. Remember to feature your narration in the mix, but bring out your background music in the beginning and end, and fade those points in and out (respectively).

10-07-21

GarageBand (MIDI & iMovie Module)

Study the Introduction to MIDI Sequencing Video Tutorial and begin the Bach Chorale and Backing Track Sequencing Projects. Remember that you will need to schedule a recording session to record one part of your Chorale in COATES. This may be done only after you finish the MIDI sequence completely (all parts aligned, mixed, orchestrated, and tempo changes inserted (fermati if applicable and final ritardando).

10-12-21

(Fall Break-No Class) GarageBand (MIDI & iMovie Module)

Continue MIDI projects.

10-14-21

EDF Compliance Web Pages

Study the calibration example site and create the required content and web pages.

10-17-21

GarageBand assessment and Original Composition are due by 11 p.m.

Export your Original Composition (audio file) and publish it on your GS “Music Technology Projects” page. Be sure to include a descriptive narrative for all of your Google Sites media postings. Put a copy of the original Garageband file (.band file) into Google Drive and take the GarageBand Assessment.

10-19-21

EDF Compliance Web Pages

Study the calibration example site and create the required content and web pages.

10-21-21

Notation

Sibelius Ribbon & Note Entry Methods 

10-24-21

The MIDI assessment, the "GarageBand Mixing & Dealing with Disasters" Assessment, and the iMovie video podcast of your "History of Music Technology Topic" are due by 11 p.m.

Complete the MIDI assessment, the "GarageBand Mixing & Dealing with Disasters" Assessment, and export your iMovie video podcast of your "History of Music Technology Topic" to either Youtube (then embed the video on your GS webpage) or upload it directly to your GS webpage (.Mov or MP4). Be sure to include a descriptive narrative for all of your GS media postings. Also, remember to put all of your original files into Google drive, and for GarageBand, also on a USB drive (just to be safe). On your Mac, go to Finder>Music>GarageBand and find your "project" file. If you saved it elsewhere, then go to where you saved the project file. Once you see it, drag it to GD and to your USB drive.

10-26-21

Notation

Sibelius Tools and Editing

10-28-21

10-31-21

Notation

HMT Video Podcast (iMovie Project) Due by 11 p.m.

 Sibelius Dynamics and Articulations

(See Module 7) The iMovie video podcast requires you to use your GarageBand original composition as the background music. Mix the audio tracks together in Audacity or GB, normalize it, and then import it into iMovie. Remember to feature your narration in the mix, but bring out your background music in the beginning and end, and fade those points in and out (respectively).

11-02-04-21

Notation

 Sibelius Special Notation 

11-07-21

The GarageBand MIDI and Recording Projects are due by 11 p.m.

Two separate files are required. Export the Bach Chorale MIDI sequence as a four-part audio file (.mp3 or .wav). Publish it on your Google Sites “Projects” page and place the “.band” file in our shared Google Drive folder. Then, assuming that your MIDI Chorale is completely finished and edited per the instructions, meet with your assigned recording engineer and record your part, add your recorded audio to your MIDI sequence, mute the part that you covered in your recording, and apply the editing processes to the tracks (and recording) as required in the directions (see Module: mixing, effects, etc.). Then export your Bach Chorale with your recorded audio and export the final mix and post the MP3 to Google Sites and original file to Google Drive with narratives about the process (what is MIDI, how is it useful to musicians, aspects of your recording experience, etc.).

11-09-21

Notation

Sibelius Exporting and Intro to Finale Note Entry Methods

11-11-21

Notation

Finale Note Tools & Entry Methods

11-14-21

EDF Compliance Web Pages & Sibelius submissions are due by 11 p.m.

1) Post Sibelius PDFs to Google Sites and 2) submit your actual Sibelius files (.sib) through Google Drive. Be sure to include a descriptive narrative for all of your Google Sites media postings. 2) Make sure your EDF Web Pages are finished, posted, and all of your links are working properly. You have 8 webpages due that satisfy the COE technology requirements for EDF 204. At the end of the semester (before the final exam time), you will need to make a screencast where you take the viewer on a tour of your entire site and discuss how each project is valuable as a musician and an educator/performer. That file will be posted in Google Drive and on your Google Site, or linked from your Google Sites to YouTube.

11-16-21

Notation

Finale Tools, Dynamics and Articulations

11-18-21

Notation

Finale Special Notation

11-23-21

Notation

Finale Exporting 

11-25-21

Thanksgiving

Eat some great food :)

12-02-20

Finale submissions are due by 11 p.m.

1) Post Finale PDFs to Google Sites and 2) submit your actual Finale files (.mus) through Google Drive. Be sure to include a descriptive narrative for all of your Google media postings.

Please note that unexcused late assignments, if accepted, will be reduced by 25% for each day late. This is also applies to content that should have been posted to your website.

SyllabusMUS384 Computer Skills in Music

Syllabus
MUS384 Computer Skills in Music