December 8, 2004

Innovative New Music Class Offered for Spring Semester

The Boise State University Department of Music announces a new course for the Spring 2005 semester that utilizes computers in making musical compositions. Professor of music Ted Apel, who will teach Introduction to Computer Music, believes that computer technology provides new and creative ways to compose music. “The computer is a tool that musicians can use to expand the ways in which they express musical ideas,” he said. Topics include digital sound synthesis techniques, analysis-synthesis techniques, granular synthesis techniques and algorithmic composition. “Students will learn to program the computer to create their own musical compositions in ways that are impossible without it,” said Apel. There are no prerequisites for the course; however, musical and/or computer programming knowledge will be helpful. Apel said the new course will benefit a diverse array of students, including art, computer science, engineering and music majors. “Music students will gain skills applicable in many musical contexts and computer science students will learn a new application for their programming skills,” he said. Introduction to Computer Music (MUS 294, section 1650), will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Morrison Center, Room 115. The course will provide an introduction to sound processing techniques for computer-based musical composition, expose students to important works of electronic music and require students to create their own original compositions using techniques learned in class. To enroll, register for class #15352 at http://broncoweb.boisestate.edu or see the registrar in the Boise State Administration Building. For more information on the course, e-mail Apel at tapel@ucsd.edu. -30- Contact: James Cook, Department of Music, 208 426-1773. Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, communications and marketing, 208 426-3275. Rachel Bonilla. communications and marketing, 208 426-3196.