NIME 2021

Syllabus Fall 2021

In this course students design and build digital/analog musical instruments and ultimately create a live performance using them. Over the semester, we look at examples of current work by creators of musical interfaces, and discuss a wide range of issues facing technology-enabled sound performance, such as affordances, mapping, links to acoustic instruments, site specificity, gestuality. Readings and case studies provide background for class discussions on the theory and practice of designing musical controllers and the process of integrating them in a musical performance, with attention to the idiosyncrasies that emerge from the figure of the inventor/composer/performer. Students design and prototype a musical instrument – a complete system encompassing musical controller, algorithm for mapping input to sound, and the sound output itself. A technical framework for prototyping performance controllers is made available. Students focus on musical composition and improvisation techniques as they prepare their prototypes for a final live concert where they (or guest musicians) will perform with their instruments. Prerequisites: ITPG-GT.2233 (Introduction to Computational Media) and ITPG-GT.2301 (Physical Computing).

09/13. Session 01. Introduction. Discussion: what is an instrument?
09/20. Session 02. First instrument performance. A brief history of musical expression.
09/27. Session 03. Inspiring NIMEs. Ableton and Max/MSP intro workshops.
10/04. Session 04. Elements of Sound. Synthesis and Sampling. Mapping.
10/12. Session 05. Elements of Music. NIME principles and process.
10/18. Session 06. Midterm performances, group A.
10/25. Session 07. Midterm performances, group B.
11/01. Session 08. Concept presentations with guest critics.
11/08. Session 09. Methods for performing. Evaluation criteria. Workshop.
11/15. Session 10. Artist talk.
11/22. Session 11. Workshop. Technical Rider.
11/29. Session 12. Rehearsal (Garage).
12/06. Session 13.  Full Rehearsal (Garage).
12/11. Extra Session.  Dress Rehearsal (Garage).
NIME SHOW. Sunday, Dec 12. 370 Jay St Garage, 6pm.
Please keep Saturday and Sunday open for sound+light check, set up and tear down.
12/13. Session 14. Show review

Sessions

This section will be updated weekly with class notes, assignments and links

09/13. Session 1.

  • Introductions
  • Syllabus overview
  • Discussion: what is an instrument?
  • Activity: one gesture : one sound

Assignments

  • Create a musical instrument and come ready to perform it for one minute
  • Read:
    • Music as mirror of mind, by Laurie Spiegel
    • Theremin in the Press, by Jaime Oliver

09/20. Session 2

  • First Instrument Performances
  • A brief history of musical expression
  • What is NIME
  • Acoustic vs Digital instruments

Assignments

  • Bring a computer with Ableton and Max/MSP installed to class
  • Read: The Hand in the Web: An Interview with Michel Waisvisz

09/27. Session 3

  • Examples and analysis of NIMEs
  • An introduction to Ableton Live by Cy X
  • An introduction to Max/MSP by Cy Kim

Assignments

  • Read:
    • This is your Brain on Music, by Daniel Levitin. Chapters 1 and 2.

10/04. Session 4

  • Elements of Sound
  • Additive, Subtractive, FM Synthesis (Max/MSP illustrations)
  • Sampling – Max/MSP and Ableton instruments, free sources of samples online
  • Mapping
  • Slides

Assignments

  • Finish your interface/gesture => sound space team exploration. One person plays the interface, the second person generates the sound in the background. Come ready to do a minute performance in class.

10/12 Session 5

Assignments

      • Group A: prepare midterm performances. October 18 schedule is here.
      • Add to our shared equipment list . We also need volunteers to help bring the equipment downstairs – please come to the ER at 3pm.
      • (Optional) Read:
        • The Importance of Parameter Mapping in Electronic Instrument Design, by A. Hunt et al

10/18 Session 6

Group A midterm performances in the Garage:

Assignments

  • Group B: prepare midterm performances.

10/25 Session 7

Group B midterm performances in the Garage.

11/01 Session 8

Concept presentations. Guests: Rena Anakwe, Helen Leigh, Sarah Ibrahim

11/08 Session 9

11/15 Session 10

11/22 Session 11

Help

Policies

Evaluation

Grades will be determined according to the following breakdown:

  • Regular Assignments 40%
  • Participation and Attendance 30%
  • Final Project 30%

Please see ITP’s statement on Pass/Fail which states that a “Pass” is equivalent to an “A” or a “B” while anything less would be considered a “Fail”.

We will have weekly assignments that are relevant to material from the previous class. These assignments are required and you should be prepared to show/talk about them in class. It is expected that everyone in the class will create and maintain a blog for their assignments.

Attendance is mandatory. Please inform your teacher via email if you are going to miss a class. Two unexcused absences is cause for failing the class. (An unexcused lateness of 10 minutes or more is equivalent to 1/2 an absence.)

This class will be participatory, you are expected to participate in discussions and give feedback to other students both in class and participate with their projects. This (along with attendance) is 30% of your grade.

Class will culminate with a final performance of student projects. You are expected to participate in the final performance of your NIME, as well as previous rehearsals throughout the semester. This will comprise 30% of your grade.

Statement of Academic Integrity

Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work as though it were your own. More specifically, plagiarism is to present as your own: A sequence of words quoted without quotation marks from another writer or a paraphrased passage from another writer’s work or facts, ideas or images composed by someone else.

Statement of Principle

The core of the educational experience at the Tisch School of the Arts is the creation of original academic and artistic work by students for the critical review of faculty members. It is therefore of the utmost importance that students at all times provide their instructors with an accurate sense of their current abilities and knowledge in order to receive appropriate constructive criticism and advice. Any attempt to evade that essential, transparent transaction between instructor and student through plagiarism or cheating is educationally self-defeating and a grave violation of Tisch School of the Arts community standards. For all the details on plagiarism, please refer to the Tisch School of the Arts, Policies and Procedures Handbook, which can be found online at: https://tisch.nyu.edu/student-affairs/important-resources/academic-integrity-policy

Statement on Accessibility

Please feel free to make suggestions to your instructor about ways in which this class could become more accessible to you. Academic accommodations are available for students with documented disabilities. Please contact the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities at 212 998-4980 for further information.

Statement on Counseling and Wellness

Your health and safety are a priority at NYU. If you experience any health or mental health issues during this course, we encourage you to utilize the support services of the 24/7 NYU Wellness Exchange 212-443-9999. Also, all students who may require an academic accommodation due to a qualified disability, physical or mental, please register with the Moses Center 212-998-4980. Please let your instructor know if you need help connecting to these resources.

Statement on use of Electronic Devices

Laptops will be an essential part of the course and may be used in class during workshops and for taking notes in lecture. Laptops must be closed during class discussions and student presentations. Phone use in class is strictly prohibited unless directly related to a presentation of your own work or if you are asked to do so as part of the curriculum.