[Weekly Summaries: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12]
Spring 2020
Monday 2/3
Collected and reviewed quiz #1. Reminded of due dates for quiz #2 and date of test #1. Did NOT do the second history presentation today, since I did not have the USB-C to Audio adapter needed to play back from laptop. Introduced basic MIDI effects and “Logic Basics Instruments.” Did the first pass of assessing assignment #2 — will complete on Wednesday. Reminded class of the basic issue in assignment #3 — all parts must be played on a keyboard — no audio and no loops. Will likely need to reassess the due date for #3 and, as a result, also for #4 as well.
Wednesday 2/5
Plan: 15 minutes work time at start of period. Return quizzes. Electronic music history topic #2. Remind that due date is NEXT MONDAY, with test on quizzes #1 and #2 at the Wednesday class. Hear the rest of #2 assignments. Significant work time on #3 — since it was originally scheduled to be due TODAY!!! (Now delayed…)
Spring 2019
Monday 2/4
Heard all #2 assignments (with possibly a straggler or two) today. Class had work time on #3, with first playback pass at the next class and (likely) the second pass next Monday, 2/11. Introduced audio effects plus a little bit on MIDI effects. Showed how to automate a master volume control. (Wednesday plans: collect quiz #1 and review, start playback of #3.)
Wednesday 2/6
Collected and reviewed quiz #1. Introduced “Logic Basics Instruments” (aka virtual synths or virtual instruments). Did the second electronic music history subject. Announced that Quiz 2 will be due one week from today and that test 1 will be two weeks from today. Lots of work time on #3, but about two students were done at the end, sooooo… next time: some work time on #3, then the first pass, then more work time and a second pass if possible.
Spring 2017
Monday 5/8
Remind: Quiz #2 due on Wednesday. Test next week. Back up folder with flash drive. Assignment # due today. Work on #4. Logic automation. Did the first pass on assignment #3, and need to do the second pass next time, perhaps after some lab time at the start of class.
Tuesday 5/9
(OLD: Returned quiz #2. Introduced more about the NN-XT today, especially the concept of layering and of velocity layers. After that the majority of the the rest of the period was devoted to work time on assignment #3, with the expected (and completely normal!) set of questions, problems, and confusions that come up with sampling. My impression is that most students are still working on #3 and will need additional work time at the next class before I assess them.)
Wednesday 5/10
Collected and reviewed quiz #2. Reminder about test #1 next week. Work time to finish #3. New topic: creating sounds on the ES1. Heard remaining #3 assignments. (There were a few who still did not play #3. I said I would not ask again — that they would have to let me know when it is finished — but I think I should at least ask one more time next Monday.)
Thursday 5/11
Took the test on FM and waveforms/harmonics today. Work time on #3. Heard some #3 assignments.* Continue on to #4, after explaining basics of connecting effects in Reason. (For reasons explained to the class I did not listen to assignment #3, though most if not all did finish. I will hear them at the next class meeting in week 6.)
Winter 2017
Monday 2/6
Finished hearing #2. Work time on #3. Only about 3-4 students had finished #3 at the end of the period. Did not explicitly mention the due date for #4, though the assignment has been updated to show it. Began introducing topics that are needed for #4: automation in Logic, effects, and “logic basics instruments.” Did the first two but only barely did the third. Showed how to select instruments and very briefly looked at the ES1. Should probably look at the EXS24, Ultrabeat, and maybe the EFM1 next time. Reminded the class about the quiz that is due on Wednesday.
Tuesday 2/7
Not this quarter
Wednesday 2/8
Second electronic music history subject. (Quiz due one week from today.) All preparation for assignment #4 now complete and that work is due next week. Work time, plus heard remaining #3 work.
Thursday 2/9
Not this quarter
Fall 2016
Monday 10/24
Collected and briefly reviewed quiz #1. Introduced Logic Basics instruments: EFM1, ES1, EXS24, Ultrabeat — for assignment #4. Before today’s class, perhaps five students had played their project #3, and perhaps 3-4 were ready to play back at the start of the period. Others needed more time, so I waited until later in the period to hear #3. Also, will likely wait until Wednesday to present the second history topic, thus delaying quiz #2 and test #1 by one session.
Tuesday 10/25
Not this quarter
Wednesday 10/26
Second electronic music history subject. (Quiz due one week from today.) All preparation for assignment #4 now complete and that work is due next week. Work time, plus heard remaining #3 work.
Thursday 10/17
Not this quarter
Spring 2016
Monday 5/2
Originally planned to have #3 finished today, so today was almost entirely a work day to complete it. Most students are finished, except… a few were not done and were advised to come to the Tuesday class to catch up on lab and a few didn’t quite use the copy, alias, and loops in the right ways — e.g. ways that make logical sense. Next time hear the final row (east side of room) and do the second pass.
Very low completion rate on quiz #1 today. More than half of the class “forgot” to bring it in. In their defense, there was one place on the website where I typed “Wednesday” instead of “Monday,” even though I had repeated the actual due date daily in class. Ah, well! I gave everyone until Wednesday to turn it in this time. Will need to do the second history topic very soon, possible Wednesday, in order to stay on schedule for the first test.
Tuesday 5/3
Returned quiz #2. Introduced more about the NN-XT today, especially the concept of layering and of velocity layers. After that the majority of the the rest of the period was devoted to work time on assignment #3, with the expected (and completely normal!) set of questions, problems, and confusions that come up with sampling. My impression is that most students are still working on #3 and will need additional work time at the next class before I assess them.
Also: Announced that test #1 will be one week from today on Tuesday, May 10
Wednesday 5/4
Was going to do the second electronic history presentation, but I realized that I had overlooked the logic basics instrument requirement in assignment #3. So I introduced this and delayed the due date by one more class session as listed on the quizzes page. This will also likely delay the test date by one sessions. Resolve this for certain at the next class meeting. Heard lab project #3 from most students — except a few who left bits and pieces out and whose work I ned to hear next time.
Thursday 5/5
More work time on #3 with the samplers and the matrix pattern sequencer. Not surprisingly, this is a challenging assignment and only six students reported being finished at the conclusion of the period — so due date has been put off until next time. Reminded the class of the written test next week. Introduced signal processors and connection to instruments through a serial approach and to the mixer via a parallel approach.
Winter 2016
Monday 2/1
Work on #3. Introduce in Logic: “Logic Basics instruments,” automation, review splitting percussion part on one instrument across multiple tracks. Reminder about upcoming quiz/test/assignment dates. (Wanted to introduce the editing popup menu tools — velocity, scissors, etc. — but did not. Perhaps try this on Wednesday. Will also need at least 15 minutes of work time on #3 on Wednesday.)
Tuesday 2/2
Not this quarter.
Wednesday 2/3
Collect and review quiz #1. Second EM history topic. Work time on #3. Go over features of #4. Started to hear #3, but only a very small number were done — continue with playback on Monday.
Thursday 2/4
Not this quarter.
Friday
(not scheduled every quarter)
Fall 2015
Monday 10/19
Collected and reviewed the first quiz. (Do second topic at Wednesday class?) Work time on #3. Explained “logic basics instruments.” Heard a few remaining #2 stragglers.
Tuesday 10/20
Not this quarter.
Wednesday 10/21
Began hearing next project #2. Continue today. Remind about quiz #2 and test #1 dates. Should now have all skills for assignment #4. Second EM history topic presented and quiz date assigned for one week from today.
Thursday 10/22
Not this quarter.
Friday
(not scheduled every quarter)
Spring 2015
Monday 5/4
Collected and reviewed the first quiz. (Do second topic at Wednesday class.) Work time on #3. Introduced signal processors, but quickly. Did a quick explanation of how to select effects from the track channel strip or in the mixer. Briefly explained reverb, delay, and EQ. Very briefly pointed out the existence of the so-called MIDI FX options.
Tuesday 5/5
Collected quiz #2 and reviewed — announced that I would provide the date for test #1 on Thursday of week 6. Explained the Matrix Sequencer in more detail — had only given a very quick intro at the previous session. Virtually the entire rest of the period was devoted to work time on the sampler assignment since this one takes a lot of time. Few were finished at the end of the period, so although it is due at the next session we are likely to need more work time before I audition them.
Wednesday 5/6
Work time on #3 — although the official due date was today, it appeared that very few were finished at the start of the period. (This is not really a surprise, since in previous quarters most weren’t finished until one class session later.) With this in mind, changed official deadline to next Monday. Introduced a few small points in Logic: how to automate the master volume channel; how to automate effects; the Logic global tracks (tempo and meter).
Originally planned to do the second history topic today, and have the quiz due one week later. Need to delay that, but should try to do the presentation on Monday, May 11, with quiz due on Monday May 18 and test on Wednesday, May 20.
Thursday 4/7
Introduced signal processors (effects) and how to connect them in series and parallel in Reason, which also meant introducing the 14:2 mixer. No one was finished with #3 at the start of the period, so there was at least a half hour of time to work on that. It appears that I had not heard all #2 assignments, so the plan was to catch up with them today, also. Revised upcoming dates through assignment #4. So, next time…
Hear any #2 assignments that I have not already graded AND hear #3 by the end of the period if not sooner.
Friday
(not scheduled every quarter)
Winter 2015
Monday 2/2
Reminded about the first quiz. Looked at Logic Instruments. Heard the rest of assignment #2. Have all the pieces to do #3.
Tuesday 2/3
Collected quiz #2 and reviewed — announced that I would provide the date for test #1 after returning theBegan with a basic introduction to the NN19 and NNXT samplers. (Did a basic intro to the Matrix sequencer last time.) Heard the rest of assignment #2 (Subtractor). Saw how to load patches into both. Discussed the difference between loading patches and (just barely) loading samples. Illustrated why we use key zones. Showed the control panels of both the NNXT and NN19, but did not deeply investigate either. Then I assessed assignment #2 (the Subtractor assignment) for the entire class. Next time: college quiz 2, go more deeply into the samplers.
Wednesday 2/4
Work time on #3. Due today, but most will likely not finish. Collected and reviewed quiz #1. Next class: 2nd EM topic. (Quiz two classes later, with test the following session.) Logic master volume automation — demonstrated how to set up the track in the arrange window.
Thursday 2/5
Returned both quizzes and set test date for one week from today, on Thursday, February 12. We looked as sampler velocity zones, both to control dynamics and to layer different sounds on the same keyboard. We went through the process of importing a large audio source into Logic and then editing it down to a sample that we could import back into Reason and the NN19 or NNXT. There was also some work time on #3.
Friday 2/8
(not scheduled every quarter)
Spring 2014
Monday 5/5
Collected and reviewed the first quiz. Introduced signal processors in Logic. Work time on #3. All pieces should be in place for #4. Make it due Wednesday next week, May 14. (There was a surprising number of absences today. May need to say something next time if this continues.) Next: Near start of period: First pass on assignment #3. Second EM topic and quiz to be assigned.
Tuesday 5/6
Began with a basic introduction to the NN19 and NNXT samplers. Saw how to load patches into both. Discussed the difference between loading patches and (just barely) loading samples. Illustrated why we use key zones. Showed the control panels of both the NNXT and NN19, but did not deeply investigate either. Then I assessed assignment #2 (the Subtractor assignment) for the entire class. Next time: college quiz 2, go more deeply into the samplers.
Wednesday 5/7
Took virtually the entire period checking assignment #3. Not surprisingly, there were issues with the appropriate circumstances to use the alias, the option-drag copy, and the loop—and several who thought they were done had to make some last-minute changes. Had planned to do the second EM history topic today, but since assignment #3 took nearly the entire period, that needs to be held over until the next class.
Thursday 5/8
Collected and reviewed quiz #2. Returned quiz #1. Introduced the Matrix Sequencer. Went over the process of building a very basic sample instrument out of individual samples: dividing into key zones, selecting samples that fit into key zones, mapping samples to root keys. Work time on Matrix Sequencer and basic sampling…
Friday 2/8
(not scheduled every quarter)
Winter 2014
Monday 2/3 – Did the first electronic music history presentation. Quiz #1 due on Wednesday, February 12 at start of class. Hear the first pass of assignment #2 – with second pass to be done at next class session. Some work time on #3. #3 is supposed to be due at next session – expect some to be ready to play back at end of period, but others may need more time “for second pass” at following class. (Signal processors and inserts are likely next up.) Tuesday 2/4 – Began with a review of how to (and how not to) use a memory stick for backup and moving files among computers. There was some work time on #3. Regarding the NN19, went over basics of how samplers work including key zones. Built a sample instrument with three key zones and mapped the samples to the correct root keys. Announced deadline for assignment #4 and for quiz #2. Heard about a half dozen assignment 2, starting at the left side of the room – hear the rest on Thursday. (Next time: continue with NN19 and then NNXT.) Wednesday 2/5 – (Written the following week from memory.) Heard a few remaining #2 assignments from students who asked and who had not played them last time. Looks like some may still need to play #2? Some work time on the next assignment, but perhaps not enough? (Need to double check the assignment description and guidelines and deadline to make sure that they have been introduced to everything they need to complete it.) Introduced (briefly) inserting effects on the mixer. Thursday 2/6 – (Written the following week from memory.) Introduced the Matrix sequencer. Covered basics of building sample instruments on the NNXT, including how to do a layer and (briefly) how to do velocity layers. Reviewed the first quiz. (Note that signal processors were delayed until after samplers.) Friday 2/8 (not scheduled every quarter)
Spring 2013
Monday 5/6 – Introduced signal processors and effects inserts in Logic. Heard #3. (A few did not play this back, but they were told that they must let me know when it is done.) Announced that Wednesday will be work day on #4 (announce due date) and that I’ll do the first EM history topic, followed by take-home quiz. Attendance was very poor today – sent email to students who were not present. Tuesday 5/6 – Quiz 2 was due today… but only five students brought it in. For reasons explained in class, I will accept it on Thursday but no later, and we will review it that day. Introduced the Matrix Sequencer, the basic concept of gate and CV control, and the splitter/merger module. Work time to finish the assignment due on Thursday.(DID NOT yet discuss using noise as a program source.) Wednesday 5/8 – Heard a few remaining #3 assignments from students who asked and who had not played them last time. Some work time on the next assignment, but perhaps not enough? (Need to double check the assignment description and guidelines and deadline to make sure that they have been introduced to everything they need to complete it.) Did the first electronic music history topic and assigned quiz as due one week from today. Thursday 5/9 – Being slightly ahead of schedule and running into multiple things that might be done today, I decided to a) not listen to the assignment due today (signal processors) just yet and b) begin the introduction of the samplers in Reason. Also collected and reviewed quiz 2. Reviewed strategies for using flash drives for storage, backup, and transfer.With this plan in mind, will NEED to hear the signal processor assignment (#4) next time. Also, announced the test for one week from today. Still need to make sure that both quizzes are returned no later than next Tuesday. Friday 2/8 (not scheduled every quarter) – Anticipating the interruption of next week’s Friday holiday, I pushed the class a bit today – moving faster than I might have preferred… Heard assignment #3 from all students. (Though it is possible that a few who were behind may want to play it for me later.) Introduced two Logic topics for assignment #4 – automation and effects inserts. Reviewed quiz 1. Did a quick coverage of the second electronic music history topic and assigned quiz 2 as due at the next class. (Anticipate that the quick coverage may lead to a need for a more thorough review.) Announced that next session will be on Feb. 22. We will start with quiz review, then work time on #4, followed by return of quiz 1 and 2 before the rolling break. I leave after the break. Substitute will administer test 1 after break and monitor work session on #4. (Although #4 is listed as due at that session, in all likelihood I won’t really get to hear them until the following session on 3/1.)
2013 Winter
Monday 2/4 – Did first EM history presentation and assigned quiz as due one week from today. Heard remaining #2 assignments. Effects inserts in Logic. Did NOT start the presentation of automation, so that will be a Wednesday topic along with hearing #3. Tuesday 2/5 – Returned Quiz 2. Introduced signal processors in Reason. Assignment #4 due one week from today. Returned quiz #1. One more small modulation topic – using noise as a program source. Did NOT try to hear any #3 assignments today – save for next class. Wednesday 2/6 – Heard a few more assignment #2 examples. Almost no one was yet done with #3, so I will hear those next Monday. Introduced automation in Logic. Reminded class about using other class times for additional open lab. Also reminded class that quiz #1 is due next Monday. Thursday 2/7 – Heard #3 – except for a small number who were not ready on the “first pass.” Told them that they need to be finished before start of next class, using open lab if necessary. Collected and reviewed quiz #2. (Need to schedule test based on quizzes.) Explained how the velocity section of the Subtractor works. Essentially done with Subtractor (and intro to effects from last session), so on to new topic next time – likely the NN-XT and NN-19 with preexisting instruments. Friday 2/8 – Anticipating the interruption of next week’s Friday holiday, I pushed the class a bit today – moving faster than I might have preferred… Heard assignment #3 from all students. (Though it is possible that a few who were behind may want to play it for me later.) Introduced two Logic topics for assignment #4 – automation and effects inserts. Reviewed quiz 1. Did a quick coverage of the second electronic music history topic and assigned quiz 2 as due at the next class. (Anticipate that the quick coverage may lead to a need for a more thorough review.) Announced that next session will be on Feb. 22. We will start with quiz review, then work time on #4, followed by return of quiz 1 and 2 before the rolling break. I leave after the break. Substitute will administer test 1 after break and monitor work session on #4. (Although #4 is listed as due at that session, in all likelihood I won’t really get to hear them until the following session on 3/1.)
2012 Spring
Monday 5/7 – Heard only a very small number of assignment #3. (We seem, though, to be a sessoin ahead of last quarter.) Will hear remainder early in the next class. (Class will work on #4 while I hear #3.) Did first electronic history presentation. Assigned quiz due date as one week from today. Tuesday 5/8 – Introduced the Matrix Pattern Sequencer. Heard a few remaining Assignment #3. Added to modulation by discussing what happens when one or more of the oscillators has harmonics or when a noise generator is used as the program. Work time on the signal processor assignment. Collected and reviewed quiz 2. Wednesday 5/9 – Heard almost all assignment #3 – there are a very small number of people who need to show this work at the start of the next class. Went over due dates for #4 (now next Wednesday) and the first quiz (next Monday). There was a fair amount of confusion about carefully following the assignment 3 format, so we addressed that general concern, along with a few other odds and ends. Reminded class to print first quiz TODAY. Thursday 5/10 – Heard remaining #4. Introduced the use of the NN-XT and NN-19 with preexisting instruments. Offered a basic explanation of key groups, etc. Next time need to build an instrument from scratch and see how to swap out samples. Friday 5/11 – No Friday class this quarter
2012 Winter
Monday 2/6 – Work time on #3. Introduced effects inserts in Logic. Then… Realized that most would not finish #3 today, so moved ahead to do first electronic history presentation. Assigned quiz due date as one week from today. Regarding assignment #3… will need to provide perhaps another 30 minutes of work time on Wednesday, then listen to them. Need to announce and describe #4 and set deadline. Tuesday 2/7 – Collected and reviewed take home quiz 1 on harmonics. Heard assignment #3, the subtractor assignment – which took longer than I expected. (Modification to the assignment for the future might include requiring students to work from init patch on all or some instruments, submit written descriptions of all parameters that they changed, ask them to account for a subset of adjustments whether or not they changed them, etc. – the issue is that a number of them submitted fairly interesting sounds, but they produced them by making very minor changes to preexisting sounds and they did not understand why the sounds worked as they did.) At the end of the period, considered introducing the Matrix sequencer, but there was too little time. Perhaps need to introduce the “velocity” section of the subtractor, at least to demonstrate the concept of having velocity scale the effect of other controls. Wednesday 2/8 – Ended class a few minutes early today. 30 minutes work time on #3, then room circuit to hear this assignment. Went over requirement for #4 and announced due date. Reviewed how to use Logic Basics instruments for assignment #3. (Next time do 2nd EM topic – same day as first take home quiz due. Reminded class to print first quiz TODAY. Thursday 2/9 – Introduced the Matrix Pattern Sequencer and mentioned that it would be used in the next project. (#5?) Did NOT yet introduce the two samplers – do that at the next class. Collected and reviewed quiz 2. Work time to complete #4 (effects in the racks) and heard/saw almost all #4 assignments with the exception of a few who were absent. So far, there has been little real work time on #5, so the soonest it could be due is next Thursday – pending introduction of the samplers next Tuesday with sufficient work time. Otherwise it may be delayed until the following Tuesday. Friday 2/10 – Collected quiz 1 and reviewed it at start of period. Work time on #3, then heard #3. Throughout the period there was some work time on #4, which was due today.* (Some still need to play?) Did the second electronic music history topic, and announced its due date – and the fact that test 1 takes place the same day. Very briefly described what the focus of assignment 5 is, but still really need to do the explanation of how front panel controls work. (This assignment will be due at the first meeting in March – one week after the test 1.) *In reality, about four people were actually finished with #4, so I assigned AS HOMEWORK attendance at open lab to finish it before next meeting on 2/24, to be played back five or ten minutes after we finish the quiz review at that session.
2011 Fall
Monday 10/24 – Work time on #3. Heard #3 – from those who were finished. Started first history topic. Wednesday will primarily be: Hear #3, then finish EM history project and assign quiz, with any remaining time for work on #4. (May need to delay #4 deadline depending on progress on Wednesday.) Tuesday 10/25 – No Music 8 this term. Wednesday 10/26 – Finished first EM topic. Assigned Quiz 1 as due next week on Wednesday. Announced assignment 4 as next project and due next Wednesday also. Work time to finish #3 or start on #4. Heard remaining #3 assignments. Reminded class to print first quiz TODAY. Thursday 10/27 – No Music 8 this quarter Friday 10/28 – Completed first EM Topic. Work time on #3. Hear #3. Second EM Topic. Work time on #4. Announce both take-home quizzes due next Friday at start of class. Announced that TEST 1 will also be next week! No new Logic topics. Introduced logic effect inserts and automation. About next week – we are now up against the two holidays in November. For this reason two quizzes are due next week and we do the test and (we hope) assignment 4 is due. It may or may not be possible to introduce the next Logic topic but this should happen if at all possible
Dan Mitchell 