New Interfaces for Musical Expression
- Fall 2012 - Tuesdays 6:30-9:00pm
- Instructor: Greg Shakar
- NIME specific Residents: Antonius Wiriadjaja, Merche Blasco, Nick Yulman
- Office Hours:
- Resident Researchers
- Greg after class and by appointment (arrange via email)
Assignments and Readings
While the central purpose of this class is to produce and perform an instrument, there are a number of assignments and readings that are also required. These are designed to bring clarity, structure, and inspiration to the process. Unless otherwise specified, the assignments and readings are always due the week after they are assigned (i.e. the next class).
Workshopping
In order to support an iterative instrument-design and composition process, everyone is required to bring works-in-progress to class each week for demonstration and feedback. At the very least, be prepared to discuss what progress you've made. Also helpful will be questions, thoughts and discoveries for us to discuss as a group, so make sure to have something in mind to say for each class session.
Preparing for the show
One of our collective tasks for the semester will be preparing for the concert at the end of the semester. There will be a number of tasks to be taken care of, including choosing a venue, making a poster, creating a program, promotion, etc. The primary responsibility for running the show will fall to the Resident Researchers. Time will be spent discussing and preparing for the show both in and outside of class.
Performance Critique
Frequently, we will watch a video of a performance then critique it. The point is to focus on what is happening in the performance rather than whether we liked it or not. The discussion can cover any topic, with the emphasis being on what can be gleaned about music composition and performance. Rather than statements like, “I liked it” or “it sucked,” focus should be placed on the the factors that contribute to your aesthetic reaction. The composition, timbres, the performance itself, how the parts relate to the whole, whether the gestures fit with the sound, etc. What do you think worked well, what aspects could have been improved and how. What did you learn from studying the performance. This kind of critical mindset can be very valuable for developing a keen sense of listening, though it can be a bit difficult to learn at first.
Grading Criteria:
- You must perform with an original instrument of your creation at the NIME concert at the end of the semester in order to receive a passing grade.
- Punctual and regular attendance at class meetings
- Level of participation in class discussion
- Quality and timeliness of assignments
- Ability to collaborate responsibly with other classmates
- Creativity and inventiveness of final musical instrument prototype
- Performing in the NIME concert is required for a passing grade.
Laptops in Class
Laptops are awesome, but they are very effective instruments of distraction. Everyone benefits if we all pay attention. In general, when you use your laptop during class it should be in order to support or enhance the class experience. During discussions and when your fellow students are talking, please be respectful of everyone's time and sense-of-purpose and close the lid. If you are using your laptop, you may be asked to close the lid.
Weeks 1-6: Concept Development
(9/4) Week 1: Start
Introductions. Info about the class. Discussion about first instrument building assignment.
Performance Critique: Michael Waisvisz - the Hands, @ NIME'03 in Montreal
Performance Critique: Ariel Nevarez - Mimbre, @ ITP NIME SHOW '09 in Brooklyn
- Assignment
- a) Create a musical instrument using any material or technique you like.
- b) Prepare a one minute performance to played in class. Don't talk about your instrument – play a piece of music with it
- c) This is meant to be a fun assignment that gets us started thinking about composition and performance with novel instruments
- Sign up for training session
- optional: "Like" the ITP NIME Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NIME-ITP/147688535266559
- reading / listening / viewing
(9/11) Week 2: Sound
Musical Instrument presentations. Physics of sound. Musical Instruments. Control vs Synthesis
- Assignment
- Create another instrument prototype in one week.
- This time focus on either _control_ or _synthesis_
- (which ever you choose, you will do the other next week
- It may help to use this assignment as a sketch or experiment towards designing the instrument you will ultimately be building for the show at the end of the semester. You have the option of working in groups.
- Prepare a brief (one minute) performance or demo that illustrates your design decisions. (What does it do? How does it do it? Why did you do it this way?)
- Also, prepare for next week's Intro to Max/MSP
- bring a laptop to class with Max/MSP
- you can borrow one from the ER
- or download and install it on your own computer: http://cycling74.com/products/max/
- (there's a fully functional 30 day free trial)
- (it's possible to use the ER laptops to do your programming and then run the "patch" on your own computer even if you don't have Max/MSP installed)
- reading / listening / viewing
(9/18) Week 3: Synthesis
Musical Instrument presentations. Introduction to Max/Msp
Guest Lecturer: Scott FitzGerald
Example patches from class: http://droolcup.com/share/NIME_F2012.zip
Performance Critique: Quadrotor concert
- Assignment
- Create another instrument prototype in one week.
- focus on either _control_ or _synthesis_
- which ever you chose last week, this time do the other
- It may help to use this assignment as a sketch or experiment towards designing the instrument you will ultimately be building for the show at the end of the semester. You have the option of working in groups.
- Prepare a brief (one minute) performance or demo that illustrates your design decisions. (What does it do? How does it do it? Why did you do it this way?)
- reading / listening / viewing
(9/25) Week 4: Planning
Musical Instrument presentations. Project Planning and Prototyping
Guest Lecturer: Sherri Wasserman
Performance Critique: Wheel Experience - Younnat [3min]
- Assignment
- Prepare a Project Plan for you instrument
- If you don't have a final concept, choose an alternate ("runner-up") concept and make a project plan for that
- The Project Plan should include a time - table that will have your instrument and performance ready in time for dress rehearsal
- Hand in a version of the project plan - printed on paper - at the beginning of class on week 5
- Be ready to talk about your concept in class on week 5
- If you don't have a final project planned, be prepared with questions for the class that will help you home-in on a final concept
(10/2) Week 5: Concept Discussions
Discussion about the upcoming concept Presentations.
Performance Critique:
Daedelus - Live in San Antonio - Outtro (local mirror) [2min]
The V Motion Project [3.5min]
(10/9) Week 6: Physical Computing for NIME
Guest Presentation: Tristan Perich http://www.tristanperich.com/
Performance Critique: Effet Papillon - Mylene Benoit / Cie Contour Progressif (local mirror) [9min]
Performance Critique:
(10/16) Week ???: NO CLASS !!
(10/23) Week 7: Concept Presentations 1
This class is devoted to 1/2 of the classes’ concept presentations. Students in the class present the idea they will be implementing during the term. Each presentation will be limited to 15 minutes.
Guest Critics
- Michael Schneider
- Jeff Feddersen
- John Tymkiw
Presenters:
- Matt
- Danne
- Jee Won
- Lisa
- Roopa
- Ann
- Luisa
(10/30) Week 8: Concept Presentations 2 Hurricane Sandy
Class Cancelled.
Weeks 9 - 11: Development
(11/6) Week 9: Concept Presentations 2
This class is devoted to 1/2 of the classes’ concept presentations. Students in the class present the idea they will be implementing during the term. Each presentation will be limited to 15 minutes.
Guest Critics
- Lesley Flannigan
- Scott Gursky
- John Tymkiw
Presenters:
- Amar
- Tony
- Guilherme
- Ioni
- Francis
- Johann
- Owen
(11/13) Week 10: Studio Class – Audio Engineering
Guest Lecturer: Paul Geluso
Basics of using Microphones, Mixing Consoles, outboard processing.
Performance Critique: vienna vegetable orchestra
(11/20) Week 11: Prototype Updates and Performance Planning and Composition
Artist's presentation by Lesley Flannigan
In this class, students will give brief updates of their musical interface prototypes, in a forum for class/instructor evaluation and feedback.
- Assignment
- List your equipment needs in the spreadsheet: Equipment Spreadsheet
- Create your performance plan. (Does not need to be handed in.) The key idea is to map out how your performance will proceed – how it will begin, how it will unfold, and how it will end. Use the performance planning strategy that makes the most sense for your piece and for your instrument.
- Possibilities include:
- a graphic representation of the timeline or event possibilities for you to follow during your performance.
- a traditionally notated score, or variation on traditional music notation (including devising your own notation scheme for your instrument).
- a bullet point list describing the sequence of events you want to move through during the performance, articulating particularly the beginning and end.
- or create your own notion of what a score could be, (as long as you speak to its validity as a performance planning tool).
BE ABLE to close your eyes and walk through your whole performance from pre-beginning to post-end. Rehearse it on the subway train, when you’re walking. The key for each rehearsal, real or imagined, is maintaining continuity. Do not stop or let it be interrupted. It can fast or glacially slow, but it must be continuous.
(11/27) Week 12: Preparation for show & Workshopping
Full class workshop. Create detailed work assignments and setup duties for each student for the show.
(12/4) Week 13: Dress Rehearsal 6:30-midnight
All NIME projects are required to be on the ITP floor during this period. We will review each project, assess all staging and technical requirements for the performance, and gather information to generate the running order for the final show. NOTE: You can have your project anywhere you want on the floor - it must be functioning and making sound. We will do a full run-through of concert. Pizza will be served.
(SUNDAY 12/9) Week 14: The Show - ALL DAY
MANDATORY PERFORMANCE AT PUBLIC VENUE on December 9
This will require you to be available for set up.
The performance is scheduled for Sunday, 12/9, 8-11pm:
Note: The show is the final class meeting. Class will not meet on 12/11/2012
