Course Descriptions
MUSC 106: American Popular Music
Credits: 5.0Study of popular music in the United States from minstrelsy and Tin Pan Alley to hip-hop and EDM. Style, musical forms, instruments, and lyrics are all discussed and analyzed. No prior knowledge of music is required. Prerequisite(s): Placement in ENGL& 101 or instructor permission.
Course Level Objectives
- Describe how national and international events shaped and influenced popular music in the United States.
- Recall how various musical genres and styles led to the development of other musical styles.
- Analyze the processes and institutions that popularize music.
- Describe music using commonly accepted terminology.
- Discuss how different cultures and subcultures influenced popular music over the past 150 years.
- Contrast and compare the most prominent figures in American popular music from the last 150 years.
MUSC 126: Introduction to Electronic Music
Credits: 5.0Provides an overview of the technology, history, and aesthetics of electronic music. Introduces acoustics and recording engineering in home and project studio environments. The music of early experimental artists such as Stockhausen and Varese is discussed alongside DJ, electroacoustic artist, and EDM contemporaries.
Course Level Objectives
- Identify the basic components and equipment used in a recording or project studio.
- Demonstrate the basic principles of acoustics and digital audio theory.
- Summarize common synthesis and digital audio processing techniques.
- Describe sounds using commonly accepted terminology.
- Summarize the evolution of electronic music and instruments from 1900 to the present.
- Compare and contrast the most prominent figures in electroacoustic music from the last century.
MUSC 127: Music Production 1
Credits: 3.0Apply concepts learned in MUSC 126 in the digital music studio. Projects revolve around recording, editing, and mixing audio as well as MIDI synthesis and sampling. Students are invited to use the Edmonds CC Digital Music Studios for the duration of this course. Prerequisite(s): MUSC 126 with a minimum grade of 2.0 or instructor permission. Corequisite(s): MUSC 200.
Course Level Objectives
- Set up and run small recording sessions.
- Apply common mixing and mastering techniques to multi-track recordings.
- Create original synthesizer and sampler software instruments.
- Integrate music and sound design into video footage.
- Complete a full-length original audio composition/production.
- Identify common studio production techniques by ear.
MUSC 128: Music Production 2
Credits: 3.0Students are encouraged to produce original music in order to develop their portfolios. Students meet once a week in small groups for forum-style lectures. Students enrolled are invited to use the Edmonds CC Digital Music Studios for the duration of this course. Prerequisite(s): MUSC 127 with a minimum grade of 2.0 or instructor permission.
Course Level Objectives
- Make a significant contribution to a student's own music production/composition portfolio.
- Produce music using a variety of techniques available in Edmonds CC's Digital Music Studios.
- Thoughtfully critique audio and music works by their peers.
- Present their original work to a panel of their peers.
MUSC 129: Music Production 3
Credits: 3.0Continuation of MUSC 128. Students produce original music in order to develop their portfolios. Students meet weekly in small groups for forum-style lectures. Students enrolled are invited to use the Edmonds CC Digital Music Studios for the duration of this course. Prerequisite(s): MUSC 128with a minimum grade of 2.0 or instructor permission.
Course Level Objectives
- Make a significant contribution to a student's own music production/composition portfolio.
- Produce music using a variety of intermediate techniques available in Edmonds CC's Digital Music Studios.
- Thoughtfully critique audio and music works by their peers.
- Present their original work to a panel of their peers at the reinforcement level.
- Demonstrate current production techniques that they observe from contemporary music.
MUSC 190: Introduction to Audio Production
Credits: 2.0Provides an introduction to terms, concepts, and equipment used in home and professional studio environments. Students enrolled are invited to use the Edmonds CC music studios to complete large scale mixing projects. No previous musical knowledge is necessary.
Course Level Objectives
- Identify the basic components and equipment used in a recording or project studio.
- Demonstrate the basic principles of acoustics and digital audio theory.
- Set up and run small recording sessions.
- Apply common mixing and mastering techniques to multi-track recordings.
MUSC 200: Music Production 1 Lab
Credits: 2.0Introduction to the workings of a recording/production studio. Concludes with a final project that forms the basis for their portfolios. Students are invited to use the Edmonds CC Digital Music Studios to complete their projects for the duration of this course. Prerequisite(s): MUSC 126 with a minimum grade of 2.0 or instructor permission. Corequisite(s): MUSC 127.
Course Level Objectives
- Set up and run small recording sessions.
- Apply common mixing and mastering techniques to multi-track recordings.
- Create original synthesizer and sampler software instruments.
- Integrate music and sound design into video footage.
- Complete a full-length original audio composition/production.
- Identify common studio production techniques by ear.
MUSC 227: Music Production 4
Credits: 3.0Continuation of MUSC 129. Students produce original music in order to develop their portfolios. Students meet weekly in small groups for forum-style lectures. Students enrolled are invited to use the Edmonds CC Digital Music Studios for the duration of this course. Prerequisite(s): MUSC 129with a minimum grade of 2.0.
Course Level Objectives
- Make an extended (or multiple) significant contribution(s) to their own music production/composition portfolio.
- Produce music using a variety of advanced techniques available in Edmonds CC's Digital Music Studios.
- Thoughtfully critique audio and music works by their peers.
- Present their original work to a panel of their peers at the reinforcement level.
- Demonstrate current production techniques that they observe from contemporary music.
MUSC 228: Music Production 5
Credits: 3.0Continuation of MUSC 227. Students produce original music in order to develop their portfolios. Students meet weekly in small groups for forum-style lectures. Students enrolled are invited to use the Edmonds CC Digital Music Studios for the duration of this course. Prerequisite(s): MUSC 227 with a minimum grade of 2.0.
Course Level Objectives
- Make an extended (or multiple) significant contribution(s) to their own music production/composition portfolio.
- Produce music using a variety of advanced techniques available in Edmonds CC's Digital Music Studios.
- Thoughtfully critique audio and music works by their peers at an advanced level.
- Co-lead music discussions and/or present their original work to a panel of their peers.
- Demonstrate current production techniques that they observe from contemporary music.
MUSC 229: Music Production 6
Credits: 3.0Continuation of MUSC 228. Students produce original music in order to develop their portfolios. Students meet weekly in small groups for forum-style lectures. Students enrolled are invited to use the Edmonds CC Digital Music Studios for the duration of this course. Prerequisite(s): MUSC 228 with a minimum grade of 2.0.
Course Level Objectives
- Make an extended (or multiple) significant contribution(s) to their own music production/composition portfolio.
- Produce music using a variety of advanced techniques available in Edmonds CC's Digital Music Studios while maintaining the highest standards of audio fidelity.
- Thoughtfully critique audio and music works by their peers at the mastery level.
- Lead music discussions and/or present their original work to a panel of their peers.
- Demonstrate current production techniques that they observe from contemporary music.
MUSC 230: Music Production for Media
Credits: 2.0Students create original music for visual media (film, TV, etc.) using Edmonds CC production studios. TV/film examples are analyzed for their sonic components and properties. Introduces orchestration and the use of the orchestra in modern media. Prerequisite(s): MUSC 127 and MUSC& 141.
Course Level Objectives
- Define and discuss common terms and concepts in the film/video sound industry.
- Navigate through modern digital orchestra sound libraries.
- Dissect and spot a film or piece of visual media for dramatic form and the role of sound.
- Write original underscore to various video clips be included in their portfolio upon completion.
- Recall the evolution of sound in film and television over the past 100 years.
MUSC 290: Advanced Audio Production
Credits: 2.0Continuation of MUSC 190. Emphasis placed on live instrumental recording and mastering. Additional topics covered include multi-band compression, stereo enhancement, mastering for other media, advanced mic placement, and musical styles and form. Prerequisite(s): MUSC 190.
Course Level Objectives
- Demonstrate the advanced principles of recording acoustics.
- Set up and run large-scale recording sessions.
- Apply common mixing and mastering techniques to multi-track recordings at the advanced level.