Vak: Introduction to Electronics in Compositiona & Performance credits: 3

This module is designed to give students an introduction to using electronics in both composition and performance. No prior knowledge is required however it is recommended that students have their own copy of Ableton, or another similar DAW program. The course is designed to meet students at their area of interest, giving them further ideas to explore within their practice. Some areas covered will be ‘what do we mean by electronics?', ‘how does sound work?’, ‘how do microphones work?’, ‘how do I record myself playing?’, ‘how can I use electronics alongside other artistic disciplines?’. Alongside this will be an overview of the history of electronics in music, from the earliest avant-garde pioneers like Pierre Shaeffer and Musique Concrete, all the way through to the many ways electronics are used now in everything from pop music to interactive installations. There will be 5 workshop / lab sessions, offering students the chance to immediately implement and explore the concepts discussed. Assessment will be based on work presented during these sessions, and on a final presentation showing implementation of these concepts.