NIME 2019

Syllabus Fall 2019

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, agency, site specificity, haptic feedback, and 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).

Schedule

09/06. Session 01. Introduction. What is NIME.
09/13. Session 02. First instrument performance.
09/20. Session 03. Inspiring NIMEs. Sound + Synthesis I.
09/27. Session 04. Sound + Synthesis II. Workshop in Max/MSP and Max for Live.
10/04. Session 05. Elements of music. NIME principles and process. Evaluation criteria for performances.
10/11. Session 06. Midterm performances, group A
10/18. Session 07. Midterm performances, group B
10/25. Session 08. Concept presentations with guest critics Viola Yip, Ranjit Bhatnagar, and Sofy Yuditskaya
11/01. Session 09. Methods for Sounding. Methods for performing. Workshop.
11/08. Session 10. Artist talk: Andy Cavatorta. Stage plan and technical rider for a performance.
11/15. Session 11. Full rehearsal at ITP, group A
11/22. Session 12. Full rehearsal at ITP, group B
12/06. Session 13. NIME show
12/13. Session 14. Show review

Sessions

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

09/06. Session 1.

      • Introductions
      • What is an instrument. A brief history of musical expression. What is NIME. Acoustic VS Digital instruments.

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

09/13 Session 2

      • Student instrument performances
      • Syllabus overview

Assignments

      • Bring a computer with Max/MSP installed to class
      • Start familiarizing yourself with MAX/MSP and Ableton Live (see Help/Help View)
      • Read: The Hand in the Web: An Interview with Michel Waisvisz

09/20 Session 3

      • Examples and analysis of NIMEs
      • Lecture: elements of sound & synthesis

Assignments

      • Bring a computer with Max/MSP and Ableton Live installed to class
      • Read:
        • Real Sound Synthesis for Interactive Applications, by Perry Cook. Chapter 6: Spectral Modeling and Additive Synthesis.
        • This is your Brain on Music, by Daniel Levitin. Chapters 1 and 2.

09/27 Session 4

      • Lecture: elements of sound & synthesis, continuation
      • Workshop: Intro to Max/MSP and Max for Live. Examples of additive and subtractive synthesis, random tone generator, and workflow: sensor reading>>control of MIDI in Ableton Live. You can find all the examples here

Assignments

      • Bring a working circuit with Arduino reading the input of a sensor triggering or controlling a specific sound
      • Sing up to present your midterm project here

10/04 Session 5

      • Lecture: elements of music, input controls and mappings
      • Ideation Activity: sketching mappings
      • NIME process and principles
      • Evaluation criteria for NIME performances

Assignments

      • Prepare your midterm performance
      • Read:
        • The Importance of Parameter Mapping in Electronic Instrument Design, by A. Hunt et al
        • Optional: A geometry of music, by D. Tymoczko. Chapter: Introduction (e-book available online at the NYU library)

10/04 Session 6

Midterm performances, group A. Lecture Hall (202).

10/04 Session 7

Midterm performances, group B. Seminar hall (1201).

10/04 Session 8

Concept presentations. Guest critics: Viola Yip, Sofy Yuditskaya, Ranjit Bhatnagar.

Please fill in this feedback form on how the class is going so far.

11/01 Session 9

Methods for sounding: recording audio and MIDI, sampling and looping, granular synthesis, audio effects, MIDI effects. Free online resources: devices and samples.

Methods for performing: collective analysis of three performances.