THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Music

Undergraduate Course: Creative Coding for Sound (MUSI10100)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryIn this course you will explore relationships between code and sound and develop sound work that changes according to context. This course will help you to explore sound-based interaction methods in the context of new music, sound installation and algorithmic composition. These topics are also relevant to other areas such as sonification, product and prototype design.
Course description This course allows you to explore sound-based interaction methods in the context of new music, live performance, sound installation and design by looking at creative approaches to using computers and code. Lectures cover a range of areas based on the development of interactive software systems for manipulating, sampling and synthesising sound in real-time. You will investigate these aspects and apply them through coding your own projects in relation to areas such as interactive sound design, digital musical instrument design, data sonification, sound therapy, algorithmic composition, and audio- visual installation and performance. Your projects will be developed using an accessible software programming language such as Max.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  20
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 22, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11, Summative Assessment Hours 1, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 162 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Two components:

Component 1 (30% of course mark): musical software project
A musical creative coding project, to be submitted mid-semester. The submission will include the software, a short 600 word report showing your project aims and prior research, and a short video explaining and demonstrating your project. [LO 1, 2]

Component 2 (70% of course mark): Interactive audio project and documentation
A more substantial and complete project to be submitted at the end of the semester. The submission will include the software, an audio recording (or several) of your software being used, a longer 1000 word report on your project aims and approach, and a short video explaining and demonstrating your project. [LO 1, 2, 3]
Feedback You will receive verbal feedback in the regular tutorials on formative work.
You will receive written feedback on both summative submissions as per University guidelines.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Create engaging, interactive, sound-based coding projects in an accessible coding language
  2. Articulate in written and practical work an understanding of aesthetic questions surrounding interactive audio
  3. Devise and translate individual design ideas into a final sound-based performance, piece or installation
Reading List
Indicative reading list:

Alessandro Cipriani, Maurizio Giri (2010) Electronic music and sound design: theory and practice with MaxMSP. Contemponet
Roger Dean and Alex McLean (2019) The Oxford Handbook of Algorithmic Music, Oxford University Press.
Rodgers, Tara (2010) Pink Noises: Women on Electronic Music and Sound. Durham NC: Duke University Press.
Bronner, Kai, and Rainer Hirt (2009) Audio Branding: Brands, Sound and Communication. 1st ed. Fischer (Reinhard)
Farnell, Andy (2007) An Introduction to Procedural Audio and Its Application in Computer Games, http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/versions? doi=10.1.1.531.2707.
Roads, Curtis (1996) 'The Computer Music Tutorial. Cambridge', Mass: MIT Press.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills The University has identified several groups of abilities that should be developed as part of the University of Edinburgh training experience, and to enhance your employability as a graduate. These abilities take your skill-base beyond academic knowledge. They relate to this course in a number of specific ways, as outlined below.

Enquiry and lifelong learning
This course attempts to make coding accessible and enjoyable. You will explore sound through an accessible coding language, opening up a diverse range of project options that will be of potential use later in your programme of study and beyond. Coding practices are flexible so that what is learnt in one domain can be applicable to others: e.g. visual art practices, design, performance, installation, media art, software development, and so on.

Aspiration and personal development
The course should provide you with the tools to begin to explore your own creative projects through programming. Although we can only go so far with this course, the course can be a window into a new world that you can explore.

Research and enquiry
The practical skills you learn on this course are enhanced by encouraging further reading of books, online resources, research papers, and tutorials. The practical project will allow you to research and explore your chosen topic for yourself and to find your way among the many resources available on the topic.

Personal and intellectual autonomy
By exploring practical topics, reading and engaging with materials for the course submissions, you will learn to develop your own coding skills, the ability to solve your own problems, and to seek help when necessary from a variety of sources.

Personal effectiveness
The ability to organise and summarise your thoughts and material in a flexible and accessible way is a core feature required for personal effectiveness. Planning, time management and reflection are central to this. By providing you with a timetable where key submission dates are highlighted, we encourage you to develop your effectiveness throughout this course. These same skills extend to other courses and also to your overall ability to maximise your achievement while studying at this University.

Communication
It is important that you develop skills to interact constructively with others and convey knowledgeable and balanced views. In the practical classes you will be encouraged to share ideas and insights with other students, to seek help and provide help where necessary. You will also be encouraged to engage with online forums: asking for help in a clear, legible and friendly manner, and posting help yourself if possible.
KeywordsCreative coding,generative music,sonic art,sound installation,live performance,algorithmic music
Contacts
Course organiserDr Tom Mudd
Tel: (0131 6)50 2808
Email: tmudd@exseed.ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Hugh Black
Tel: (0131 6)51 5926
Email: hugh.black@ed.ac.uk
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