MUS112A - Intro Music Tech - Syllabus - Ohlone College

Get Help

• Contact Bruce Tambling
• You are invited to contact me with questions and to attend live office hours

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to creating music with keyboards, audio samples, and beats using computer music software (Pro Tools). The course is designed to train students in the understanding and application of music technology with emphasis on mixing, mastering, and MIDI sequencing. The course covers the fundamental vocabulary, methods, concepts, and devices used in contemporary music production, including sound fundamentals, consumer audio equipment, personal computers, and software.

Learning Objectives

1. Explain the basic components MIDI systems. (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
2. Write original compositions using a midi/audio workstation
3. Define and discuss the aesthetic qualities of music using contemporary media
4. Create unique programming/sequencing that includes the linking of patterns into a musical composition, and the inclusion of audio files as an integral element

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this class.

Course Meeting Times and Location - Fall 2021

Section 1: MUS112A On Campus - Ohlone Fremont

Location: TBA

• Monday/Wednesdays
• 11:10AM - 12:40PM Lecture/Lab
• Hybrid Hours - TBA

Section 2: MUS112A 100% Online

• The online class has no set meeting times.
• Online students are always welcome to join any of the face-to-face lectures or activities on the Ohlone campus as your schedule permits.

Recommended Textbook

An Introduction to Music Technology, 2nd Edition

Author: Dan Hosken

Kindle: $59.99

Publisher: Routledge; 2nd edition (January 15, 2019)

ISBN-13: 978-0415825733

ISBN-10: 9780415825733

Required Hardware

1. Computer
   • Although iOS and Android mobile devices are getting more powerful all the time, Music Technology students need a computer to do a lot of this work.
   • Either a Mac or Windows computer is fine
2. Dedicated Media Drive
   • You will need an SSD Drive
   • 1TB is recommended

Required Software

1. Any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
   • Including Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton Love, FL Studio, Cubase, Digital Performer, Reaper, GarageBand, Audacity etc.
2. Screen Capture Software
   • Students will be required to submit a screen capture video for some creative projects and technical assignments.
   • Screenflow, normally $129, but offers an unlimited trial mode that will be fine for this class.
   • Go here for more info: How to Create Screencasts.
3. MP3 Conversion Software
   • Most DAWs have the ability to transcode (convert) lossless audio files (WAV, AIF, FLAC etc.) into MP3
   • It's also useful to have a dedicated app like Switch, which is free for both Windows and Mac

Pro Tools

In addition to your primary DAW, we recommend that all Music Technology Students learn Pro Tools. Even with the wide range of capable DAWs available, like Ableton, Logic, FL Studio etc., Pro Tools remains the industry standard DAW. Learning the basics of Pro Tools is not difficult and the signal path is similar to traditional mixing consoles which is good knowledge to have. Bruce Tambling is an Avid Certified Pro Tools Expert Level Instructor.

Pro Tools Options

1. Purchase subscription directly from Avid.
   • Installing on your computer is the fastest way to learn Pro Tools.
   • The best deal is $8.25/month.
2. Sweetwater.com is a great place to purchase Pro Tools, at student discount, because they offer free tech support that is better than Avid support.

Hybrid Online TBA Activities

Hybrid classes will include scheduled in-person meetings and an online component. Students will see these hours listed as TBA (To Be Announced) in their My Portal course schedule. These hours can be done anywhere with an Internet connection.

Online activities may include:

• Instructor-facilitated Discussions
• Private Messages
• Live Chat or Instant Messaging
• Lab Assignments, including student-created content
• Web conferencing of lectures or discussions
• Collaborative group work
• Portfolio submissions with instructor feedback
• Student peer-review postings
• Quizzes with instructor feedback

Grading Policies and Guidelines

Your grade will be determined by the total number of points acquired throughout the quarter. Assignments, Projects, Quizzes and Tests accumulate the number of points posted in the Canvas.

90% - 100%	Total Points = A
80% - 89%	Total Points = B
70% - 79%	Total Points = C
60% - 69%	Total Points = D
0% - 59%	Total Points = F

Avoid Being Dropped

1. The State of California requires that all students show some evidence of participating in class by the end of Week 2
2. Students that do NOT show any participation in Canvas by the end of Week 2 will be DROPPED!
3. In order to avoid being dropped for non-attendance there must be evidence of weekly attendance/participation in Canvas
   1. Discussion Forum Posting
   2. Quiz
   3. Assignment

Assignment Deadlines

Assignments are usually due on Mondays at 11:59PM

2 Week Grace Period

• We give you a 2 week grace period to submit your assignments past the Due Date
• No late penalties or score reductions will be applied

After 2 Weeks - Assignment CLOSES

• It is NOT possible to reopen a Canvas Assignment after it closes

The absolute FINAL DEADLINE to submit ANY late assignments for this class is Sunday morning after Finals Week at 8:00 AM

Global Assignments

Some assignments in this class include universal concepts and skills that we also study in other classes. You might see some assignments that are replicated across all of my classes. For example, DAW editing workflows, critical listening and digital media file management etc. Simply submit your work in each Canvas course to receive full credit.

Extra Credit

There are 2 ways to earn extra credit in this class:

1. Some of the weekly assignments in Canvas will say 0 Possible Points
   • If you submit these you can earn up to 100 points Extra Credit
2. Extra Credit Module
   • This module will have 3 additional Extra Credit Assignments
   • Offering the opportunity to earn 300 additional points

Effort and Improvement

Most of the assignments in these Music Tech classes are graded based on effort, time and energy invested and general progress over the quarter. We don't grade students down for creative, artistic or aesthetic criteria. Generally speaking, if you submit the assignment on time, you will receive full points.

Your Final Grade

Final Grade is determined by:

1. Quizzes and Exams (30%)
2. Assignments and Exercises (35%)
3. Class Discussion Forums and Participation (35%)

The exact percentage of each category varies as new material is developed and all Music Technology courses are constantly being updated.

There are also opportunities to earn extra credit on a variety of assignments and activities. See Canvas Modules for more information.

Quiz and Exam Scores

You can re-take Quizzes and Exams as many times as you want. Your score will be based on your last attempt.

Class participation

There are a number of ways students can earn points for class participation.

1. In class discussions, both face to face and online
   • Weekly participation is 10% of grade for on campus face-to-face classes
2. Written reports and contributions, including comments and feedback to other students, are recorded in the class Canvas website

Learn By Doing

You will be encouraged to research various concepts, techniques and workflows. Learning how to focus Google Searches with optimal keywords is an essential skill for all Music Tech students.

Workload and Grading Curve

We carefully review and calculate the time anticipated for students to complete for every Canvas Module item. Sometimes it's difficult to estimate exactly how much time is required for certain exercises and projects. If I miscalculated or underestimate the amount of work required for a given assignment, don't worry, we will adjust the due dates and/or deliverables. At the end of the quarter, final grades are always very fair and generous.

Extra Credit and Optional Assignments

This class includes a variety of Extra Credit and Optional Assignments allowing students to choose areas of interest and to make up for late work if needed.

Assignment Feedback and Grading Timelines

We make every effort to review and grade your assignments within one week after the due date. Please keep in mind many assignments must be manually reviewed and graded: one at a time. If students notice their assignment scores do not accurately reflect completed work, please contact us.

Add Codes

After the quarter starts, students will need an Add Code to add the class. We can usually provide these for you. Please ask us for an add code. The SOONER you do this the better chance you have to register. Additional information regarding late add procedures at Ohlone College can be found here: How to Add a Class.

Important Dates and Deadlines

The digital media content creation industry is driven by strict deadlines. If you aspire to work professionally in the industry, or transfer to another school, we encourage you to get used to completing things on time. Your contributions to this class are a vital ingredient for all of us. The exchange of information, and sharing of the creative process, can only happen if you stay up to date with the assigned material. We are all incredibly busy this day and age, and we understand the balancing act to get everything done. The Music Technology Program wants to encourage and support your success in this class.

College Schedules and Deadlines

Please refer to the Ohlone College Calendar for up-to-date information.

Class Policies

Copyright and Intellectual Property

Your contributions to this class are a vital ingredient for all of us. The exchange of information, and sharing of the creative process, contributes to a rich learning experience that is often greater than any textbook could provide. Music Technology Classes involve the creation of digital media content. Students will retain full ownership and copyright of all their works. Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created in fixed form. The copyright in the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author who created the work. Only the author, or those deriving their rights through the author, can rightfully claim copyright. In other words, once you've written it, you hold copyright.

Similar to a teaching hospital, student's submitted work, assignments and projects may be shared with other Music Tech students for educational purposes. Always in a password protected area, not available to the general public. Students will always receive appropriate credit and recognition. Your instructor may exhibit, discuss and analyze your work in class. The student is completely protected by copyright law and remains the sole owner, and copyright holder, of all material. If the student wants to prevent any public exhibition of material, please don't submit these works for class credit. Students should only submit works agreed to be publicly reviewed for educational purposes.

The instructor, Bruce Tambling, has been teaching music technology classes for many years and has never experienced any copyright infringement or unlawful exploitation of student's work. Quite the contrary, students benefit from the exposure of having their work presented as this can lead to the creation of industry contacts, job referrals, academic and professional recognition, and optimized search engine placement.

The work students create is their personal intellectual property. This intellectual property can become a very valuable portfolio. Many commercially released album projects, film sound tracks, record deals, and professional collaborations started out as humble assignments submitted for class credit.

Academic Honesty

You will be encouraged to examine and review examples of professional work. You will also be encouraged to exchange ideas and collaborate with fellow classmates. However, please avoid copying other people's work. If you submit copies of someone's work, you will receive zero credit and may be sent to the Office of Student Affairs for disciplinary actions.

Accommodations

Any student who feels they may need special accommodations based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. Ohlone College has many support systems in place to help. We are committed to creating a course that is inclusive in its design that meets the needs of our diverse student body. If you encounter barriers, please let me know immediately so we can determine if there is a design adjustment that can be made. We are happy to consider creative solutions as long as they do not compromise the intent of the class or learning activity.

On-Campus Police Department

• (510) 659-6111

Ohlone College has an on-campus police department that is staffed with sworn police officers who have been trained in police procedures and emergency response. The Ohlone College Police Department is located in Building 20 (the Old Building). If you must walk alone or in dark areas, use the on-campus safety escort service by calling (510) 659-6111.

Constant Work in Progress

This syllabus is a living document that we are constantly developing and improving. Refer to it often over the duration of this course. The field of Music Technology is rapidly evolving. New software and hardware is being released everyday. It's a very exciting time. Unlike other classes where the curriculum has been established for many years and assignments remain the same every quarter, the field of Music Technology is constantly changing. This keeps things interesting but sometimes creates chaos when updating equipment and software versions etc. In addition to being your instructor, I'm also an artist and student. We are constantly learning, researching, exploring and creating. I also own one of the top recording studio facilities in Silicon Valley and subscribe to all of the premium music tech training websites and journals. So the curriculum in my classes is constantly evolving.

Diverse Range of Students

We acknowledge the diversity of the students in all of our Music Tech courses. Many of you join our classes ranging in age, with different backgrounds, experience levels and skill sets. In teaching so many diverse students, one of our challenges as professors is to provide a personalized experience for all of our students, so that you may get the most out of each course and walk away with skills and knowledge that you feel will benefit you for the future.

That being said, it is possible, given the diversity of all of your backgrounds, that at certain points, the courses may not be moving at a pace that you would like; whether that be too fast or too slow.

If you feel the course is moving too fast and you are falling behind, please send us a message as soon as possible so we can help you get caught up and point you in the right direction for resources and materials to help you.

If you feel the course is moving too slow, we would also like you to contact us ASAP and let us know. We have a TON of supplementary material including hundreds of articles, videos and exercises for you so that you can learn at your preferred pace and get the most out of each course.

We want to hear your feedback and strive to make each course as in-depth, detailed, and as personalized as possible. We want all of you to walk away from these courses feeling like you learned something valuable.

Welcome to Class!

We are all in this class because we are moved and inspired by the magnificent magic of music and sound. We are fascinated with Music Technology and the rapidly evolving tools and techniques used in the creative process. Learning the art and science of music production also requires focused work and self-discipline. You should plan on dedicating time each week to study and explore. Your instructors are here to help - so we can all learn and grow together.