03-Fa25-Comp for E-Media I
Files for class (Updated regularly)
Tulane University School of Liberal Arts – Newcomb Department of Music
Composition for Electronic Media I
APMS 2230-02
Course Syllabus
Credit hours, 2
FALL 2025
Instructor: Will Kiel
Class Location: Dixon Hall 261
Class Hours: TBD
Office Hours: By appointment, please e-mail to schedule
E-mail Address
Course website: tulane.instructure.com
Course Description:
A vibrant tradition of composing for and with technology has arisen from within the music academy around the world. Composers working in this tradition frequently stretch our conceptions of musical material, form, and development to create uniquely meaningful sonic experiences. In this course we examine theoretical and practical aspects of the study of Composition for Electronic Media.
Students taking this course for the first time will be instructed based on their prior experience level with Computer Music Software and Music Composition. Students without prior Computer Music Experience will first be coached on the use and manipulation of recorded material in Computer Music Composition. Next, students will be coached on the use of sound synthesis and digital synthesizers in large scale music composition. If students continue with the study of Music Composition for Electronic Media topics such as Surround Sound Spatialization, Immersive Audio, Audio Visual Intermedia, Algorithmic Composition, Acoustic Electronic Music Integration among other topics will be covered. Those students with a great deal of experience will be pushed outside their comfort zone with personal challenges tailored to music we listen to and study over the course of the semester as well as the student's personal interest.
The course also seeks to involve the student in the presentation of computer music through the organization of concerts of computer music during the semester. There will be special concerts at the end of the semester produced by the students in the class (with instructor supervision) featuring works by students in the class. Each student will be expected to take part in the organization, production, and setup/takedown involved in the concert. Additional special chances to place computer music in the public arena will be undertaken by the class when the opportunity arises.
Outcomes:
After taking this course the student will have gained a familiarity with many of the tools and techniques associated with Contemporary Computer Music Composition. The student will have gained practice through the completion of at least one unique large-scale computer music composition. The student will be able to identify many of the current trends, composers, and important works in the field and will be able to place his/her own work in relation to these trends. The student will also have gained an understanding of the technical requirements involved in putting on large-scale presentations of creative computer music.
Canvas:
Assignments, required readings, course announcements, and supplemental materials are posted on the Canvas site for this course. It is available at https://tulane.instructure.com/ using your email username and password. Grades will also be posted on Canvas so that you can track your progress in the course.
Resources:
Required:
A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), option include:
Ableton (available on the computer in Dixon 261 and on the computers in Dixon 207)
*Ableton licenses are also available for declared Music and Technology Majors and Minors
Audacity (free download at https://www.audacityteam.org/)
Reaper (free download/indefinite trial at: http://www.cockos.com/reaper/download.php)
Suggested:
Live Wires: A History of Electronic Music, Daniel Warner, ISBN: 978-1780238241, 2017, Reaktion Books
Audio Patcher Software, options include:
Pure Data (free download at: https://msp.ucsd.edu/software.html )
MAX/MSP (available on the computers in Dixon 207)
Music Notation Software, options include:
MuseScore (free download available at https://musescore.org/en)
Sibelius (available on the computers in Dixon 207)
Finale (available on the computers in Dixon 207)
Plugins/Bundles (free plugins available for use with your projects)
Glitch Machines (https://glitchmachines.com/ )
Kontakt Native Instruments Komplete Start (https://www.nativeinstruments.com/en/products/komplete/bundles/komplete-start/ )
Melda Productions Free Bundle https://www.meldaproduction.com/MFreeFXBundle
PaulXStretch (https://sonosaurus.com/paulxstretch/ )
Sample Packs (free sounds available for use with your projects)
Cymatics.fm https://cymatics.fm/
99 Sounds https://99sounds.org
BBC Sound Effects (BBC Sound Effects (www.bbcrewind.co.uk ))
Freesound www.FreeSound.org - searchable sample database
Pianobook www.pianobook.co.uk – Free sampler + instrument packs
SoundPacks.com SoundPacks.com - Free Sample Packs, Drum Kits & Presets
VST Instruments (free instruments available for use with your projects
Helm (https://tytel.org/helm/ )
Sitala 1.0 (https://decomposer.de/sitala/#downloads )
Spitfire LABS (https://labs.spitfireaudio.com/ )
Surge (https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/ )
Vital (https://vital.audio/ )
Dixon Hall 207
Each student taking this course will be granted access to this computer lab for work on their individual course projects and assignments. Rules for computer lab usage are posted on the door. The computers have many useful audio production and manipulation programs installed on them for your use and the room also contains an 8.1 channel surround sound setup. Students may use their splash card to access the room.
Dixon Hall 261
Each student in this course will be granted access to this studio for work on their assigned projects. Rules for studio usage are posted on the door. The studio computer has many useful audio production and manipulation programs installed on them for your use. The room also contains high-end audio production equipment and an 8.1 channel surround sound setup. We will maintain a signup sheet for use of this room as a google calendar that each student will have access to. You will be required to pass a quiz demonstrating knowledge of the studio rules and basic equipment maintenance before being allowed to check out a key to access the studio.
Do not install software on the lab or studio computers without prior instructor approval.
Assessment:
The student’s final grade will be determined in the following manner:
60% Projects and weekly progress
10% Concert attendance (including events TBD)
10% Concert production assistance
20% Final Project presentation
The final assessment will be made on a standard letter grade scale:
94-100: A 90-93: A- 87-89: B+ 84-86: B
80-83: B- 77-79: C+ 74-76: C 70-73: C-
67-69: D+ 64-66: D 60-63: D- 59 and below: F
The passing grade for Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading option is 75 and above.
Assignments:
The student is expected to compose between 2-4 large scale new musical works over the course of the semester. Students taking the course for the first time will compose several shorter pieces before embarking on a longer-term project near the end of the semester. Weekly progress is assessed based on presentation in our meetings. Unexcused absences will result in a 10% penalty to the project grade (calculated before any late penalties). Students may bring their own computer with their work on it. Files may also be accessed in the computer music studio.
A note on due dates: Students must submit assignments through Canvas by the start of class on the due date. Emailed assignments will not be accepted. Extensions on assignments may be granted on a case-by-case basis with prior approval from the instructor. Late assignments will be accepted until midnight on the due date for 90% credit, up to one week late for 75% credit, or until the last day of classes for 50% credit.
Final Project:
The student will assist in the production of 2-3 concerts of Electronic and Computer music over the course of the semester. The student will publicly present a completed work on at least one of these concerts.
Required Music & Technology Events:
Students are required to attend Music & Technology events during the semester. You will be required to submit proof of attendance for each event to Canvas.
M&T Event Calendar:
- Versipel New Music September 20th in Dixon Recital Hall
- Music at Midday – Noon on September 10th in Dixon Recital Hall
- LUNA Fete (Choose one day November 13-16)
- Music & Technology Student Concert 1 TBD Dixon Concert Hall
- Music & Technology Student Concert 2 7pm Dixon Concert Hall
- Music & Technology Student Concert 3 8pm GASA GASA on Freret
All students taking APMS 2230 are required to submit their final assignments for presentation on the end of semester concerts.
- Students taking the APMS 2230 course are required to help set up for the M&T concerts on December 8 at 10AM
OR
take down the equipment immediately following the December 10th concert.
Students can earn extra credit in the course by inviting audience members (friends, partners, family members, etc.) who attend the end of semester concerts.
Course Outline (subject to change):
Week 1: Scheduling/Introduction/Syllabus
Week 2-4: Working with Samples
Demos – DAW editing, volume automation, sample cutting/reversing, recording using the microphone in the studio
Listening – Musique Concrete, Pierre Schaeffer, Frank Zappa, Beatles, Hip Hop/Turntablism
Samples Projects
- 50 samples, sound collage, sonic narrative
- “Build a Track” Project – layer at least 6 loops of samples that creates a 2-bar loop. Work on variation of this loop by changing/removing/adding layers.
- look at simple forms based on loop (ABABCAB)
Week 5-7: Sound Synthesis/MIDI
Demos – Envelope control/filtering/modulation using VSTs, Midi Arpeggiators/Arpeggiation Patterns
Listening: Modular Synthesizers, Wendy Carlos, Suzanne Ciani, Kraftwerk, Electronic Dance Music
Midi Projects
- Midi Arrangement (download Midi files), Chord Progression/Melody, Orchestration
- “Build a Track” Project – Using Midi Instruments, create a 2-bar loop with at least 6 layers. These layers should include a basic chord progression with at least 2 chords. Base your other layers off this chord progression by using chord tones/scales. Mute the chord progression. Orchestrate your chord progression with different synths on each note of the chord.
- consider other song forms (AABACA) (ABACADAE)
Week 8-10: Audio FX/Ambient, Experimental, and Process Music
Demos – FX plugins, EQ, Reverb, Compression, sidechaining
Listening – Ambient, Experimental, and Process Music, John Cage, Brian Eno, Tetsu Inoue, William Basinski, Tim Hecker, Aphex Twin
Process Assignment (through composed)
- Inspired by Steve Reich, Brian Eno, or John Cage, create a piece that uses process oriented repetition for development.
Ambient Assignment
- Create a piece of Ambient Music.
Options include:
Track that uses only 1-3 layers of samples or midi content. Create different sections by varying the FX employed (experiment with extremely long reverb, radical low and hipass filtering. Using sidechaining from a “ghost” track to create interesting and rhythmic dips on another channel.
Track that exists as a large “wall of sound” Layer at least 12 sounds, each with audio FX that obscure the original content of the sound. Work on creating music that asks the listener to listen closely and listen “into” the mix. Work on orchestration that fills the entire tessitura.
Week 11-15: Final Project
Demos - vocal processing, mixing, mastering
Student-proposed final projects (proposal includes plan for material, form, style, sources)
Week 11 – proposal (comments from professor)
Week 12 – working on final project, listening assigned by professor
Week 13 – Rough Draft 1 (50% complete)
Week 14 – Rough Draft 2 (75% complete)
Week 15 – Final Draft (100% complete)
Exam Week: Final Concert Presentations
- Must attend December 10 concert in Dixon Hall and December 11 GASA GASA concert
Attendance:
Attendance at weekly meetings is MANDATORY. During each class session, students will be expected to participate in discussions on assigned listening and/or reading assignments. Students with scheduling conflicts that interfere with class or concert dates should notify the instructor at least one week in advance. Students should provide documentation of any extenuating circumstances (accident, illness, etc.) that occur on the day of a class or concert. Alternative assignments may be offered at the instructor’s discretion.
If a student cannot attend class for any reason, the student is responsible for communicating with the instructor to make up any work that they may miss. Faculty will provide online options for class participation, outlined in this document, and unless a student is seriously ill, they are expected to use this option. The University Health Center will provide documentation verifying a student is ill, as well as verification that a student may return to class. With the approval of the Newcomb - Tulane College dean, an instructor may have a student who has excessive absences involuntarily withdrawn from a course with a WF grade after written warning at any time during the semester.
ADA/Accessibility Statement
Tulane University is committed to offering classes that are accessible. If you anticipate or encounter disability-related barriers in a course, please contact the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility to establish reasonable accommodations. If approved by Goldman, make arrangements with me as soon as possible to discuss your accommodations so that they may be implemented in a timely fashion. I will never ask for medical documentation from you to support potential accommodation needs.
Goldman Center contact information: Email: goldman@tulane.edu; Phone (504) 862-8433;
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Code of Academic Conduct
The Code of Academic Conduct applies to all Newcomb-Tulane College students at Tulane
University. Students enrolled in the School of Professional Advancement (SoPA) have a separate Code. Tulane University expects and requires behavior compatible with its high standards of scholarship. By accepting admission to the university, a student accepts its regulations (i.e., Code of Academic Conduct and Code of Student Conduct) and acknowledges the right of the university to take action, including suspension or expulsion, for conduct judged unsatisfactory or disruptive.
Plagiarism and other forms of cheating are taken very seriously and may constitute grounds for an immediate grade of F in the course. Unless indicated differently on instructions, all assignments and projects are to be completed individually. Online quizzes and exams must be completed in the classroom unless given prior instructor approval. If there are any question about whether a resource is acceptable, ask the instructor rather than assume.
Use of chatbots and artificial intelligence (AI). The use of chatbots and AI is not allowed; all knowledge synthesis, critical thinking, and creativity must be the students’ own. If a student believes that there is a legitimate reason for using a chatbot or AI to complete an assignment, they must obtain instructor approval and include a statement explaining how these tools were used. Any questions about whether a specific use of AI is allowable should be directed to the instructor.
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EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS: TU ALERT | ||
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TROPICAL/SEVERE WEATHER | ||
Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30 each year. • Students are required to have a personal evacuation plan that can be implemented independently and without reliance on the university. • Students should have two plans: one for evacuation and one for shelter in place. When planning to evacuate, you should plan to be gone at least a week. • Visit emergencyprep.tulane.edu/hurricane-preparedness for more information. Monitor the weather and Tulane communications. • During hurricane season check the weather regularly and watch your Tulane email for university communications. • Monitor the Tulane emergency website (tulane.edu/emergency) for university-wide announcements relating to tropical storms and hurricanes. | If severe weather strikes while you are on campus: • Follow instructions in all TU Alerts. • Seek shelter indoors until the severe weather threat has passed and the TU Alert All Clear message is sent. • Do not use elevators. • Do not attempt to travel outside if weather is severe.
In the case of a university evacuation: • Activate your personal evacuation plan. • Classes may be moved online or postponed; look for announcements from your professors in Canvas. • Take all materials you will need to attend classes remotely with you when you evacuate. • If you evacuate before the university has cancelled classes OR if the university is sheltering in place, it is your responsibility to communicate with your professor. | |
ACTIVE SHOOTER/VIOLENT ATTACKER | EVERBRIDGE APP | |
• RUN – run away from or avoid the affected area, if possible. • HIDE – go into the nearest room that can be locked, turn out the lights, and remain hidden until the TU Alert All Clear message is sent. • FIGHT – do not attempt this option except as a last resort. • For more information or to schedule a training, visit emergencyprep.tulane.edu. | • Download the Everbridge app from the App Store or Google Play store. • The Report feature allows you to silently and discreetly communicate with TUPD dispatchers. • The SOS button allows you to notify TUPD if you need help. • The Safe Corridor button serves as a virtual escort and allows you to send check-in notifications to TUPD. | |
From: Tulane Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response
