Course Hub
SP24-MUSC-228: Digital Music Composition & Performance
Course Overview
This course develops the foundational skills and knowledge necessary for the creative use of technology in music composition and performance. Students learn the basics of electro-acoustic music, object-oriented computer programming, psychoacoustics, and live and automated manipulation of audio as it relates to sound production and music composition.
How the Course Works
The semester is organized as five client-style projects, each modeled on a real job a working composer or sound designer takes on: an ambient music bed for a lobby video, a cue for a short film, the sound effects for an indie game, interactive music for that same game, and a live laptop performance. Every project runs in three one-week phases, assessment → iteration → implementation, so students practice the full arc of a professional engagement: read a brief, deliver options, take notes on feedback, revise, and deliver to spec.
Each class meeting opens with peer critique of the previous week’s work, then introduces the next phase. Weekly assignments carry a rubric that weighs professional standards (file formats, naming conventions, delivery) alongside the creative brief, and Projects 1–3 include example contracts, invoices, and NDAs so the paperwork is as familiar as the DAW. See the syllabus for policies and grading.
Course Calendar
| Week | Date | Project | Phase | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W01 | Jan 25 | P1: Ambient Music Bed | Assessment | Introductions, Syllabus, Sonic Identity |
| W02 | Feb 1 | P1: Ambient Music Bed | Iteration | Feedback on initial drafts |
| W03 | Feb 8 | P1: Ambient Music Bed | Implementation | Final feedback and delivery |
| W04 | Feb 15 | P2: Film Scene | Assessment | The Art and Business of Film Scoring |
| W05 | Feb 22 | P2: Film Scene | Iteration | Feedback on spotting & first cue |
| W06 | Feb 29 | P2: Film Scene | Implementation | Final feedback and delivery |
| W07 | Mar 7 | P3: Sound Design | Assessment | Game sound design |
| W08 | Mar 14 | P3: Sound Design | Iteration | Review SFX designs |
| W09 | Mar 21 | P3: Sound Design | Implementation | FMOD Studio, delivery |
| --- | Mar 28 | --- | Spring Break | --- |
| W10 | Apr 4 | P4: Interactive Music | Assessment | Interactive music systems |
| W11 | Apr 11 | P4: Interactive Music | Iteration | Review music sketches |
| W12 | Apr 18 | P4: Interactive Music | Implementation | Final delivery |
| W13 | Apr 25 | P5: Performance | Gather Ideas | Ableton & Push overview |
| W14 | May 2 | P5: Performance | Experiment & Refine | Advanced Ableton & Push |
| W15 | May 9 | P5: Performance | Performance | Final performances |
Projects
| Project | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| P1: Ambient Music Bed | Jan 22 - Feb 9 | Create a custom music loop for visual media |
| P2: Film Scene | Feb 12 - Mar 1 | Compose music for a short film |
| P3: Sound Design | Mar 4 - Mar 22 | Design SFX for an indie game |
| P4: Interactive Music | Mar 25 - Apr 19 | Compose interactive music for games |
| P5: Performance | Apr 22 - May 10 | Live performance with Ableton & Push |
Helpful Links
Columbia College Chicago resources (require a Columbia login):
- Music Student Resource Center (Sharepoint)
- Digital Music Lab (Sharepoint)
- Studio-A (Sharepoint)
- Studio-B (Sharepoint)
- Studio-C (Sharepoint)
Additional Resources
- The Free Composer/Producer Toolkit & Beyond
- Arturia MIDI Control Center (Mac/Windows) - App for assigning MIDI CC values on the lab’s Arturia KeyLab Essential keyboards