Course Catalogue

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This course explores the nature of sound and our interaction with it as an aesthetic and culturally significant material. The course takes a practice-based approach, focusing on creative recording and manipulation of sound, critical listening, and building and using interactive computer-based tools.

20x1hr practical lab classes; 8x1hr lectures; 5x1hr studio practical classes over both semesters as scheduled in MyCampus.  This one of the Honours options in Music which may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into Music, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation. (Places may be limited for students wishing to take this as an option due to available lab space).

Sonic Arts: Interacting with Sound, MUSIC2022

Sonic Arts: Interacting with Sound, MUSIC2023

Sonic Arts: Interacting with Sound, MUSIC4053

Portfolio comprising of:

acousmatic composition of 3 minutes (40%) with accompanying critical commentary of 1000 words (10%) interactive audio project of 3 minutes (40%) with accompanying critical commentary of 1000 words (10%)

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ develop students' awareness of sound as an aesthetic and culturally significant material through creative practice

■ develop students' understanding of creative recording, programming interactive systems and other electroacoustic techniques

■ engage students in listening critically to a wide variety of sonic materials

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ undertake technically proficient sound recording and sound manipulation in pursuit of creative goals

■ use a variety of computer based tools for creating and interacting with sound

■ apply their technical knowledge creatively and analytically to produce sonically rich and well-contextualised musical outputs

■ solve technical and artistic problems in realising sound works

■ apply aural acuity and critical perspective in selecting and combining recorded sounds in depth and detail appropriate at Honours level.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.