This seminar will focus on two kinds of experimentation in music. One is experimentation in acoustics, audio perception, and cognition, which is conducted in an attempt to give us a better understanding of the effects of music. A second is the experimental use of new means of sound production and new methods of composition, in an effort to expand the musical culture in interesting ways. In both cases, scientific method and ideas from other disciplines are used to give us new understanding of the phenomenon of music.
The assignments are posted on the web. Each assignment is posted one week in advance of the due date.
For each reading or listening assignment, each student is asked to write a brief summary of what s/he has learned from the assigned material. In the case of reading assignments, the summary should include a concise restatement of the most important points, and a personal evaluation of the information in the reading. In the case of listening assignments, the summary should include observations about the music and its experimental goals, as discussed in class. The summary should be either a) computer-printed and handed in during class on the due date or b) sent as a plain-text email before the start of class on the due date.
Plagiarism of any kind is a violation of UCI policy on Academic Honesty, and penalties for plagiarism can be severe. In this class you will be expected to attribute due credit to the originator of any ideas, words, or work which you incorporate substantially into your own work. This applies particularly to citation of sources for quotes and ideas included in your writings and projects.
This page was last modified October 10, 2002
Christopher Dobrian, dobrian@uci.edu