Module WXK-1010:
Sonic Art

Module Facts

Run by School of Music, Drama and Performance

20 Credits or 10 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Prof Andrew Lewis

Overall aims and purpose

The aim of this module is to equip students with the fundamental knowledge and understanding of composition of sonic art forms that make creative use of technology. Students will explore a range of compositional methods, aesthetic approaches and technological applications (including programming with Cycling74 Max). They will undertake a series of projects making use of creative hardware and software applications, developing the skills and understanding required to required to work in innovative and creative ways appropriate to our technological age.

The module will provide the foundation required to progress to second year modules that further explore sonic creativity and experimentation with sonic art forms.

Course content

This module is designed to provide students with an appreciation of sonic art forms through a series of lectures and practical seminar sessions. Students will explore and discuss various technological applications used to transform and manipulate sound to compose works of sonic art, suitable for both fixed and live (performance) media. Lectures will address different artistic approaches to the use of recorded sound and audio technology. Technology seminars work will focus on recording, editing & production, and on learning simple programming in Cycling74 Max.

Assessment Criteria

good

Work which displays a sound grasp of the subject, adequate control of music-analytical and critical tools and conceptual engagement, researched using a good range of sources, and expressed intelligibly and interestingly.

excellent

Work which demonstrates a thorough grasp of the subject and mastery of music-analytical and critical tools, with evidence of further study, outstanding intellectual engagement and originality of approach and/or insight, researched using a very wide range of appropriate sources, and expressed convincingly and compellingly.

threshold

Work which displays basic knowledge of the subject, with limited ability at conceptual thought and musical analysis, a limited awareness of issues, and researched using a limited range of sources. Nevertheless the work has some evidence of a generally intellectual approach, with fair expression.

Learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of sonic art forms.

  2. Demonstrate a theoretical understanding of basic music-technology tools.

  3. Use technology in the realisation of music and sonic art.

  4. Work independently in the music studio environment.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
COURSEWORK Coursework 3 - Acousmatic Study

Compose a short study which illustrates some of the principles and approaches of Acousmatic Music. Optionally, you may also include influences from Plunderphonics, Glitch and/or Soundscape Composition.

Your study should be between 1 and 2 minutes in duration, and should exploring and developing one particular sound source that you have recorded yourself. Although the focus will be on one sound, you may also include others, but these must be sounds you have recorded or synthesised yourself.

You may develop your sounds using any techniques and software you feel appropriate.

You study should be in stereo.

 33
COURSEWORK Coursework 1 - Recording and Editing Project

Record, edit and produce a recording of live musicians playing in one of the following styles: popular music; classical music (including new music); jazz; world music; hybrid/fusion. The music may be original, or pre-existing.

Your finished recording should be between 3 and 4 minutes in duration, and should involve more than one musician. There must be at least one instrument/voice recorded using a microphone.

The recording may be made all at one time, or may be ‘overdubbed’ with successive takes. It may be edited to combine the best parts of different takes.

You may include electric instruments (e.g. bass guitar) and synthesised instruments (e.g. keyboards, sequenced samples), as long as the above requirements are also me.

You should ‘produce’ your recording using EQ, reverb and other processing, as appropriate to the musical style or genres involved.

Your recording should be in stereo.

The quality of the performances heard on the recording will not be assessed directly, but you should demonstrate that you have taken steps post-production to lessen the impact of any shortcomings in the performances (for example, by correcting poor intonation).

The quality of musical composition will not be assessed directly, but be aware that it is hard to make a convincing and satisfying recording of a poor piece!

 34
COURSEWORK Coursework 2 - Max project

Create a Max patch that is able to take input from a live source (a voice or instrument playing into a microphone).

Your patch must have user-adjustable input and output levels, and input and output meters.

Your patch must transform the incoming sound using ONE OR MORE of the following:

  1. Delay required features: adjustable delay time; adjustable feedback amount; adjustable balance between delayed and normal sound; OR

  2. Pitch shift required features: adjustable pitch shift; adjustable balance between pitch shifted and normal sound; OR

  3. Spatialisation (stereo or multi-channel panning) required features: panning control; some element of automatic panning (with variable control); OR

  4. Another transformation of your choice for example: reverb, EQ, granular ‘brassage’, etc. with appropriate user controls.

You must choose ONE of the above, but you can also choose to implement more than one, in the same patch. In this case, it must be possible to mix the outputs of the different transformations.

 33

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Lecture

11 lectures of up to 2 hours.

 22
Private study 156
Seminar

11 seminars/workshops of up to 2 hours.

 22

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
  • Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Subject specific skills

  • Musicianship skills – recognition, classification, contextualisation, reconstruction, exploration
  • Creative skills – conception, elaboration, adaptation, presentation, collaboration, preservation
  • Intellectual skills specific to Music – contextual knowledge, cultural awareness, critical understanding, repertoire knowledge, curiosity, analytical demonstration
  • Technological skills – digital capture, digital expression, digital innovation
  • Intellectual skills shared with other disciplines – research and exploration, reasoning and logic, understanding, critical judgement, assimilation and application
  • Skills of personal management – self-motivation, self-critical awareness, independence, entrepreneurship and employment skills, time management and reliability, organisation, etc.
  • Enhanced powers of imagination and creativity (4.17)

Resources

Pre- and Co-requisite Modules

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: