Creative Coding - MUS00134I

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Module summary

This module provides an introduction to the many forms of music technology and their current applications within the field of music production and research. You will learn about and put into practice the principles of computer programming (coding), and begin to appreciate what it means to design and build a software system. You will learn the basics of working with audio and symbolic representations of music, and you will design and build your own software systems for music (e.g., something compositional, educational, musicological, a performance, or relating to production), which will form a portfolio of differing music and audio coding software patches. The module will cover several different programs to provide students an introduction to various working methodologies and tasks that run the gamut of composition, synthesis, effects processing and analysis.

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

This module aims to:

• provide an introduction to the state of the art in software systems for music technology, including the study of different approaches to software design, programming, and their historical context;
• describe and explain digital signal processing, symbolic music processing, and sound synthesis techniques;
• introduce coding/programming and how this work is manifest in software systems for music technology.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the taught part of the project you should:

• understand the basics of audio and symbolic representations of music, and how to process those representations using a computer;
• have the ability to design and program bespoke software tools for various music-technological purposes.
• Identify and correct issues in various forms of software patches/code.

In their independent work, you should demonstrate Learning Outcomes B1-7.

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Across the course of the module, you will prepare a series of small patches or sections of code that will form a portfolio. Each two week period will work towards a different software objective, supported by a lecture, practical sessions, and a peer-supported feedback seminar. The resulting coding objective will form part of your final portfolio. This portfolio, submitted alongside a short reflective document (1000 words maximum, 200 words per objective), will contain elements of MaxMSP, MATLAB, JS, Processing and SuperCollider code.

Mark against the Music/Audio Systems Programming class descriptors

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Module feedback

You will receive written feedback in line with standard University turnaround times.

Indicative reading

Cipriani, A., Giri, M. (2019). Electronic Music and Sound Design: Theory and Practice with Max 8. Italy: ConTempoNet.

Hahn, B. D., & Valentine, D. T. (2013). Essential MATLAB for engineers and scientists (5th edition.). Waltham, MA: Elsevier/Academic Press.

Valle, Andrea. (2016). Introduction to SuperCollider. Logos Verlag, DEU.

Shiffman, Daniel (2015) Learning Processing, (2nd ed.). Morgan Kaufmann.

Kernighan, Brian. W. (2017) Understanding the Digital World: What You Need to Know about Computers, The Internet, Privacy, and Security. Princeton University Press.

Roads, Curtis (1996) The Computer Music Tutorial. MIT Press.

Puckette, Miller (2006) The Theory and Technique of Electronic Music. World Scientific Publishing.