Integrating technology into the existing music curriculum. At the heart of the conception of the Music Technology Department was the innovative idea of integrating technology into the existing music curriculum. In the years before the Music Technology Center was constructed, most music technology labs were small spaces, the keys to which were in the possession of a few trusted graduate assistants. Now, our freshman and sophomore students are given the opportunity to learn music notation software and numerous ear training drill programs. As part of their required coursework, many students are given the opportunity to perform in a recording studio and to learn the differences between this environment and the stage. Much of our class piano curriculum is computerized. Marching Band Techniques students learn the current drill design software. Performers can create accompaniment tapes with which to practice. Other software applications are available for students in history and education courses.

Courses specific to Music Technology. The Music Technology Center provides courses in music technology designed to meet the needs of students interested in using the "tools of the trade" at a professional level. These courses also serve to complement our integrated curriculum.

UNC Music Technology provides instruction to supplement all other degree programs in the School of Music. If you are interested in a degree in in sound recording, audio engineering or music technology, follow this link for more information.

The following courses in music technology are currently offered. In addition to these courses and workshops, single-evening tutorial seminars are offered throughout the fall and spring semesters. Directed studies are possible in various topics.

Objectives and Goals:

This is a project-oriented course designed to familiarize students with the language of MIDI and the uses of computers in the music profession. It stresses the MIDI and computer skills that allow the student to learn many music software applications quickly. No prerequisite knowledge of computers or music technology is required. This course starts with beginning stages of designing and setting up a workstation and progress through basic computer skills, music software skills, the language of MIDI, and operation of synthesizers.

Topics covered in this course include:

Basics:

• Introduction to Computers
• Introduction to the Language of MIDI
• Introduction to Electronic Musical Instruments
• Basics of Synthesis and Sampling
• The Macintosh operating system

Sequencing:

• Creating a computer playback file with a sequencer
• Editing (correcting and "humanizing") a computer playback file with a sequencer

Notation:

• Setting up a score
• Entering notes into a score
• Editing a score
• Page layout

Objectives and Goals:

This course was created to fill student demand for experience in creating and operating a functional, computer/synthesizer-based home project studio and composing music for this genre. This course is geared toward writing "jingles," commercials, and basic film and video scoring. Projects are completed in television soundtrack scoring, appropriate because it has most of the important elements found in any commercial project:

• Music is one of many supporting elements of a larger project.
• The music composed must meet the demands of the project (style, tension, deadlines, artistic intent, pacing, etc.).
• The music must interact with events (action, dialog, environment, etc.) present in the project.

The knowledge from the work in this class of television scoring should transfer easily into other commercial projects and media, because the same elements are involved.

Objectives and Goals:

[To be added]

Objectives and Goals:

1. To learn the fundamentals of musical acoustics, psychoacoustics and electronics used in making electronic music.

2. To learn the theory of electronic music as it has developed through the years including waveform theory, modulation theory, room acoustics theory, additive and subtractive synthesis, and many other topics.

3. To learn the basic principles of electronic music composition used in the 1930's-90's to make electronic music.

4. To learn the history of the art of electronic music including important discoveries, names of composers and works, historic styles, innovative developments, etc.

Course Content

1. Electronic Music Theory
2. Basic Acoustics
3. Basic Electronics
4. Techniques

Each student will attend the electronic music workshops concurrently with the course and will learn the computer techniques offered there. Each student will complete four projects: two different pieces notated with two different music notation programs including dynamics, phrasing, headers/footers, and extracted parts as needed; a composition created with a music sequencer program and recorded; a tape pieces which may use any or several of the various tape music techniques, sampling and recording of found sounds; a composition for live performance with electronics (synthesizers, computers, tape or other sources); design a sound. Any equipment may be used but students will normally do much of the work in the UNC Music Technology Center. There will be tests, homework and reading assignments.

For more information about this nationally-recognized workshop, follow this link.