De Anza College Electronic Music Web Site

Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music Test/Quizzes

Dan Mitchell — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:57:45 GMT

Two important announcements related to Music 8 quizzes and the first test:

The two quizzes have been graded, and grades are posted in the online grades update. You may optionally resubmit one of the two quizzes for a higher grade on THURSDAY, MAY 16 at the start of the period. If you do this, the following applies:

Write "RESUBMIT" across the top of the quiz that you choose to turn in.
You must print out a fresh copy of the quiz and answer on the new form.
Your final grade for the resubmitted grade will be the average of the first submission and the resubmitted quiz. (If you score lower on the resubmitted quiz you will retain your score from the first time you turned in the quiz.)
No late resubmitted quizzes will be accepted.

Test #1 is scheduled for our next class meeting this week on Thursday, May 16. This test is based on the questions on quizzes #1 and #2. The test is a closed-notes test and classroom computers will be off during the test.

Upcoming Office Hour Change

Dan Mitchell — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:17:29 GMT

I will likely alter my office hours a bit beginning next week (week II) of the spring term. Currently all of my office hours are at 8:30 a.m., but I would like to also be available at 11:30 a.m. on some days for students who cannot come to campus to meet at the earlier time.

Watch here for an update.

Spring 2013 Term - Electronic Music

Dan Mitchell — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:27:53 GMT

I teach the following electronic music classes during the spring 2013 term:

Music 51: Introduction to Electronic Music

Monday/Wednesday at 12:30-2:20 in room A91.

Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music
1. Tuesday/Thursday at 12:30-2:20 in room A91.

As of today it appears that both sections are full and there are students on waiting lists. I can often add a few students at the first meeting, even when the class seems to be full. If you are on the wait list you will have first priority for any available spaces in the classes, but you must be present at the first meeting. If you are not on the wait list and want to add, be sure to attend that first class since this increases the chances that I'll be able to add you.

Contact me at mitchelldan@deanza.edu if you have questions.

Grades Posted

Dan Mitchell — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:25:16 GMT

Final course grades for the winter 2013 term have been posted.

Music 8 Next Quarter?

Dan Mitchell — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:46:31 GMT

Those of you finishing up Music 51: Intro to Electronic Music can take Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music next quarter. This class moves ahead from where we are at the end of Music 51, integrating Logic and Reason by means of Rewire and focusing on sound design and synthesis techniques that let you build your own custom sounds. Registration is currently underway, so sign up now. (Note: After next quarter the class will not be offered again until Winter 2014!)

Tuesday Open Lab

Dan Mitchell — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:35:15 GMT

If no other classes need the lab at the time I will have the lab open at about 1:30 on Tuesday for about 1 1/2 or 2 hours. This will likely be the last opportunity to work on your final project.

Consider Taking Music 1A

Dan Mitchell — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:29:29 GMT

I would like to encourage you to consider taking Music 1A: Introduction to Music next quarter. This course is useful to music students in various important ways:

If you are a "music major" working toward the Music AA degree the course fulfills degree requirements in Music.
As we develop and transition to the new AA-T Music degree, the course is recommended for fulfilling Area C Humanities general education (GE) requirements for the degree and for transfer in Music.
The course fulfills current Area C Humanities requirements for general education (GE).
Learning more about music from classes including this one will help you as you continue your work in electronic music.

I teach two sections of Music 1A: Introduction to Music next quarter:

MTWTh 9:30-10:20 in A11.
MTWTh 10:30-11:20 in A11.

Let me know if you have questions or need more information.

Electronic Music Final Exam Session Information

Dan Mitchell — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:48:59 GMT

Final Exam Sessions

Each of the three winter quarter electronic music classes has a scheduled final exam session - your attendance is required at these sessions. We will use them to play back final projects and (depending upon the class) perhaps take care of some other final business.

Class	Regular Schedule	FINAL EXAM SESSION SCHEDULE
Music 51: Intro	MW 12:30-2:20	TUESDAY, MARCH 26 at 11:30-1:30
Music 51: Intro	Friday 10:30-2:20	THURSDAY, MARCH 28 at 9:15-11:15
Music 8: Intermediate	TTh 12:30-2:20	THURSDAY, MARCH 28 at 11:30-1:30

Test #2 - Intro Classes

The two Music 51: Introduction to Electronic Music classes also must complete written test #2. The test is at your last regularly scheduled class meeting before the final exam session - on Friday, March 22 for the Friday-only class and on Monday, March 25 for the MW class.

Absence from Final Exam Sessions

As per the course green sheet, your attendance at the scheduled final exam session for your class is required. In addition, submission of a completed final project at the exam session is required in order to pass the class. (More information in the course green sheet.)

You should do everything in your power to resolve conflicts and attend your required exam session, but if a very serious and unexpected emergency interferes with your ability to attend your final exam session it is absolutely critical that you immediately contact me by email and phone or in person (as per green sheet contact information) so that we can determine how to handle this.

I generally submit final course grades as soon as I finish calculating them - which may be as soon as a few hours after your exam session. Once I calculate the grades I submit my final grade roster, and it may not be possible to change your grade if you fail to contact me as described above.

Intermediate Class - Remaining Meetings

Dan Mitchell — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:52:43 GMT

There is only ONE meeting of the Intermediate class left - the Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music final exam session on Thursday, March 28 at 11:30-1:30 p.m. Attendance is required, and this is when you will play back your final project.

If you need more lab time... look lower on the home page for a summary of remaining open lab time.

And, no, there is no class next Tuesday, as we begin the final exam schedule that day.

Important Points Regarding Music 8 Presentations

Dan Mitchell — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:38:45 GMT

As you know, due to some students not being ready on time, equipment setup issues, and the difficulty of completing your presentation within the time limit... we are now a bit behind. With this in mind, the following points are critical:

Plan to complete your presentation in eight minutes. It is OK if you finish in seven and deliver all of your information. If you go past eight minutes I will stand up in order to signal that you are running out of time.
Whether you are finished or not, your presentation will end once ten minutes have elapsed.
Practice delivering your entire presentation at home before your session to ensure that it can be presented in the limited time.
Minimize the use of outside resources such as video and audio, keeping clips to the minimum length that will make your important and relevant point.
Place links to your online resources somewhere online - perhaps in a Facebook post or similar - so that you can quickly load them before you presentation.
If you need to start part way into an audio or video clip write down the exact time where you'll start so that you don't have to go hunting for it during your presentation.
If you will use any of your own hardware - instruments, computers, etc. - arrive at least ten minutes before class so that we can test it out ahead of time. (I'll try to arrive about 15 minutes early - or more - on Thursday.)

Lab Time Availability

Dan Mitchell — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:01:46 GMT

This is about the point in the term where some of you may really want some additional lab time to finish you final projects. You may come to any remaining class sessions and use any open computers - but be aware that more students than usual will likely be trying to do this!

Wednesday 3/20 at 12:30-2:20*
Thursday 3/21 at 12:30-2:20*
Friday 3/22 at 10:30-2:20
Monday 3/25 at 12:30-2:20*

* I may be able to keep the lab open a bit later than the usual closing time on these dates.

You should plan to finish no later than Monday 3/25. There may (or may not) be a bit of extra lab time available during the middle of the day or early afternoon next Tuesday 5/26. Watch here for an announcement. (This will not help students whose final exam session is on Tuesday morning!)

Spring Quarter Music Classes

Dan Mitchell — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:46:35 GMT

Now that you have taken my class this quarter, I hope that some of you might be interested in taking some of the other classes offered by the De Anza College Music Department. We have classes for those of you who do (or used to!) play an instrument or sing, those who want to learn to play or sing, those who want to learn more about the technical side of music, those who want to fulfill GE requirements by means of music classes, those interested in the music business and electronic music:

Our choirs, band, orchestra, jazz ensembles, and more are open to all De Anza students.
We offer beginning classes in keyboard, voice, guitar, and much more.
Music Fundamentals classes offer an introduction music reading, writing, and more.
A music business course is offered during the spring term for those interested in the world of commercial music.
Electronic music courses explore the use of hardware and software for music creation.

And don't forget that the Creative Arts Division offers a similar range of courses in Art, Dance, Graphic Design, Film/TV, Photography, and Theatre.

Check the college schedule at the De Anza College web site and/or ask me for more information.

Intro to Electronic Music Quiz #4

Dan Mitchell — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:10:26 GMT

Music 51: Introduction to Electronic Music quiz #4 is based on your direct experience with the Logic program - not on a special presentation in class. You'll need to have the program running in front of you while you work on the quiz in order to answer some of the questions. Be sure to set a side a bit of time during the class when the quiz is first assigned, and on using that time to view the quiz and then the Logic application in order to determine which questions you can answer without looking at the program and which will need to be answered while the program is running on your computer.

Quiz #4 is due:

On Wednesday, March 20 for the Monday/Wednesday class.
On Friday, March 22 for the Friday-only class.

Spring Quarter Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music

Dan Mitchell — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:37:46 GMT

For current and past students in Music 51: Introduction to Electronic Music, a few important announcements and reminders about Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music.

Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music is the next course in the electronic music class sequence. It builds on your experience and skills from the Intro class and continues with new material, including how to create your own sounds, sampling, the Reason application, and using Rewire to integrate Reason and Logic.
The class is not offered every quarter. It is offered next quarter, but after that your next opportunity to take it won't be until winter term of 2014!
Registration information for spring Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music:
MUSID008.01 01342 INTERMED ELCTRONIC MUSIC TTh 12:30 PM-02:20 PM

Intermediate Electronic Music: About Assignment #7 (And Maybe #6?)

Dan Mitchell — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:05:19 GMT

As we approach the end of the term, our remaining lab time is limited - but in terms of number of days (this week and next week only!) and by the use of at least half of the class time for class presentations.

Other than the presentations your most important remaining work is your final project! If you have not yet finished other projects - such as #7 - don't continue working on those earlier projects. Instead, start your final project now! While not completing an earlier project might make a small change in your grade, not finishing a final project has a major effect.

Bottom line: Do not continue to work on #7 or #6 at this point. Focus your time on completing the final project first. It is more important!

(If you do finish the final project early you may always return to the earlier projects, finish them, and show them to me when they are done.)

Making Sure You Are Not Behind - And Fixing It If You Are!

Dan Mitchell — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 20:48:03 GMT

The end is near! Of the winter term, that is...

The major work of the final two weeks of the term prior to final exams week in electronic music classes is completing the final project, which essentially functions as our final exam. (You can read the details of the project elsewhere on this web site.)

Because the project is longer, demonstrates a wider range of techniques, and should be your best work... you can expect that it will take considerably more time to complete than the earlier projects. You need to get started on it right away. It almost always takes more time than students expect!

If you are still working to complete earlier projects (such as #6 in Music 51 or #7 in Music 8), you have to think carefully about prioritizing your time. You have two options:

Skip one of the earlier projects for now so that you will have plenty of time for your final project. It would not be a good idea to continue working on the earlier projects and then find that you don't have time to complete the final project!
Complete the earlier projects but also make extensive use of outside lab time - coming in during any or all of the other electronic music classes in order to get enough additional lab time to catch up.

Intermediate Electronic Music - Upcoming Schedule

Dan Mitchell — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:21:09 GMT

This is the point in the term when many of us realize how little time is left. It becomes more and more critical to catch up if you are behind and to make sure that you don't allow yourself to fall behind. Earlier in the term there is often some flexibility that allows us to play "catch up" to some extent, but at the end of the term we have a "hard stop" by which all course work must be finished.

For the most part, the remainder of the term will be devoted to work time on your final projects. Keep in mind our motto: Get it done first. Make it better later. It is easy to start out feeling like there is a lot of time to complete the project, only to realize a week or two later that you are not close to finishing and that time is almost gone. Review the assignment guidelines and get to work on a project that meets those guidelines - then if you have additional time near the end of the term, use that time to make your project even better than what is required.

Note that at least half of the remaining class sessions will be devoted to the class presentations - which will diminish the time available for work on final projects. Also keep in mind that you may get extra lab time by coming in during any of the other electronic music class meetings and using an open workstation.

In addition to work time on the final project, we will also need to take care of the following:

Finalize and present any remaining assignments.
Work time on final projects.
Class presentations.
The scheduled final exam session, at which you'll play back your final projects.
Possibly a few unscheduled activities/presentations.

Intro to Electronic Music - Upcoming Schedule

Dan Mitchell — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:19:06 GMT

This is the point in the term when many of us realize how little time is left. It becomes more and more critical to catch up if you are behind and to make sure that you don't allow yourself to fall behind. Earlier in the term there is often some flexibility that allows us to play "catch up" to some extent, but at the end of the term we have a "hard stop" by which all course work must be finished.

For the most part, the remainder of the term will be devoted to work time on your final projects. Keep in mind our motto: Get it done first. Make it better later. It is easy to start out feeling like there is a lot of time to complete the project, only to realize a week or two later that you are not close to finishing and that time is almost gone. Review the assignment guidelines and get to work on a project that meets those guidelines - then if you have additional time near the end of the term, use that time to make your project even better than what is required.

Also keep in mind that you may get extra lab time by coming in during any of the other electronic music class meetings and using an open workstation.

In addition to work time on the final project, we will also need to take care of the following:

Finalize and present any remaining assignments.
One more electronic music history presentation in class.
Two more take-home quizzes.
The second written test (at the last regular class meeting before finals week.)
The scheduled final exam session, at which you'll play back your final projects.
Possibly a few unscheduled activities/presentations.

Please make sure that you have the scheduled exam session in your calendar. We've gone over this in class several times, and you can find it in the online course calendar that is part of the course green sheet at this web site. You are required to attend the scheduled final exam session for your class section. (There is a small possibility of a scheduled exam conflict for a few students in the Friday-only class. Double-check your exam schedule and let me know no later than one week before the scheduled exam session.)

Source of Audio Samples

Dan Mitchell — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:05:58 GMT

A reminder to Music 51A students about where to find audio samples online: http://www.sampleswap.org/

Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music - If Not Now, When?

Dan Mitchell — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:51:43 GMT

When you complete Music 51: Introduction to Electronic Music you may then enroll in Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music. (Some students with sufficient and equivalent background may be able to enroll directly into Music 8 without first taking Music 51.) The Intermediate class introduces the Reason application, focuses heavily on synthesis and sound design (creating your own sounds), and integrates the Reason and Logic applications using Rewire. I encourage you to enroll!

If you are thinking of taking Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music, there is a schedule issue that you should know about. We only offer the Intermediate class during the winter and spring terms - it is not offered during summer session or during fall. This means that you can take it during the upcoming spring term (e.g. - next quarter) or you will have to wait until the next time we offer it again in WINTER 2014. That's right - if you are not able to take the class this spring, your next chance will be in 2014!

Consider enrolling next quarter!