Music Technology / Audio Production
53.0221000; (second year course # is 53.0222000)
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It's a paradigm shift. For years schools have attempted to include digital technology in music classes as a means of teaching fundamentals and music elements in the music classroom. The byproduct was that students "might" pick up a little technology knowledge along the way. THIS course is different. At AHS we focus on learning how to use and manipulate Music Technology hardware and software for audio production - the same way the real recording world uses this technology - and the byproduct of learning this technology will be the music!
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This is a course for students with a lot, a little - or even no formal music training. Obviously having a little music training is helpful, but this course puts music technology first. Music fundamentals such as basic theory, orchestration and notation, sound, and rhythm will be covered as needed along the way - taught out of necessity and rather than being the focus of the course. In fact, the primary focus of the class is learning the basics of audio production using music technology software and hardware for audio mixing, production and creation. Students will get hands-on training on some of the most standard hardware and software available in today's audio production world. Each student seat includes a loaded Apple iMac Computer, Korg Krome 88-key workstation, Focusrite 2i4 Audio Interface, Shure SM58, and a Koss communications headset running through a Korg GEC5 network for listening and instruction. Also available to each seat is a Fender Stratocaster Guitar and for those who play, as well as one digital drum kit for live recording. Software includes the latest version of Pro Tools, Logic X, Finale’ orchestration software, as well as Rising Software's Auralia and Musition for music theory and ear training. Learning the Pro Tools software is the foundation and primary focus of the class. It is the industry-standard DAW, not because it is "the best" (the "best" is subjective) but because it is the DAW that most-closely emulates the workflow of an actual studio mixing desktop and hence, the software of choice for most major recording houses in the world today. In the end, students will be able to identify the fundamentals of basic audio recording through mixing and production. And they will be able to apply basic knowledge of hardware and software tools to recorded musical performances using a learned set audio production skills and processes.
These goals will be accomplished through CREATING and mixing simple and complex music ideas using technology, PRODUCING / PRESENTING these ideas for classmates, RESPONDING to what they hear by learning how to analyze and evaluate what they are listening to, and then CONNECTING these projects in a relevant way to the outside music world.
Intermediate and Advanced Music Technology is for students who have successfully navigated the first-year course - and want to extend their knowledge. These students will go deeper into Pro Tools, compare and contrast other DAWs, explore hardware mixing, have the opportunity to collaborate with local and regional producers and audio engineers, potentially participate in community work (ie. free mixing for others), visit live recording sessions, and have the opportunity to test their skills through Mix Contests!
ALL students will be expected to keep up with course material using their MS OneNote Notebook and TEAMS, which are part of the Office 365 suite which they will have access to through FCS. As a result, they will be able to access their notes from any computer, anytime. Assignments and other materials will be regularly posted to their notebook and TEAMS along with other important files and documents.
These goals will be accomplished through CREATING and mixing simple and complex music ideas using technology, PRODUCING / PRESENTING these ideas for classmates, RESPONDING to what they hear by learning how to analyze and evaluate what they are listening to, and then CONNECTING these projects in a relevant way to the outside music world.
Intermediate and Advanced Music Technology is for students who have successfully navigated the first-year course - and want to extend their knowledge. These students will go deeper into Pro Tools, compare and contrast other DAWs, explore hardware mixing, have the opportunity to collaborate with local and regional producers and audio engineers, potentially participate in community work (ie. free mixing for others), visit live recording sessions, and have the opportunity to test their skills through Mix Contests!
ALL students will be expected to keep up with course material using their MS OneNote Notebook and TEAMS, which are part of the Office 365 suite which they will have access to through FCS. As a result, they will be able to access their notes from any computer, anytime. Assignments and other materials will be regularly posted to their notebook and TEAMS along with other important files and documents.
Class Fees:
A $50 seat fee per student is charged to help "offset" the expense of keeping our software maintained and up-to-date. The annual support and maintenance subscription is actually over $100 per seat, per year - so we ask you to meet us half-way. This allows us to keep our critical / essential hardware and software current.
ALL FEES will be paid online through the Alpharetta HS main school website on the OSP page. "Online School Payments" is the first button from the left on the homepage. Search the course title and follow the prompts. LINK WILL BE ACTIVE 8.5.22. Thanks in advance for taking care of this.
Be sure to print your receipt at checkout! If this link is missing or not active by 8.5.22, please email Mr. Walsh.
EVALUATION:
Grading for Semester will be based on the following weights: 55% for Major assignments / assessments, 35% for Minor assignments / assessments, and 10% for Practice - which includes class participation. There will be no bell curve, bonus points, or multipliers applied.
Provision for Improving Grades
AHS RECOVERY/RISE (RE-TEACHING/INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT POLICY):
1. All students will have one (1) opportunity each nine-week period to redo/retake one (1) major assignment for improvement; eligibility for retakes is for students earning a 74 or below. However, you cannot improve your grade beyond a 75. In other words, a perfect score on the retake will be scored as a 75. Should you earn a grade lower than your original grade, the original grade will be applied.
2. Student retakes on a major summative assessment or assignment must be completed before the next summative assessment is given.
Make-Up Work:
late / missing work due to absence: You will have 1 week (5 days) to get work turned in for full credit. After that time period an M will be entered and a 10% reduction from score earned will be applied; missing work must be completed before next major assessment / assignment is due or an M will remain in the book. The work will still be accepted to the end of semester, but with 20% reduction in score earned.
Should a student be absent more than one consecutive week (5 days), it would be considered a prolonged absence. At AHS the Instructor, Counselor and grade-level Administrator will develop plan to deliver content and assess missed learning. Students may earn up to full credit for make-up work.
Present students that fail to turn in on time: An "M" will be entered into gradebook, the work must be completed before next major assessment / assignment is due, with a 15% reduction in score earned. Beyond that time the M will remain. This work will be accepted to the end of semester, but with a 25% reduction in score earned.
RISE SCHEDULE: MONDAYS, 7:40-8:15 AM / 3:25-3:50 PM, by appointment only.
AHS COMMON SYLLABUS
A $50 seat fee per student is charged to help "offset" the expense of keeping our software maintained and up-to-date. The annual support and maintenance subscription is actually over $100 per seat, per year - so we ask you to meet us half-way. This allows us to keep our critical / essential hardware and software current.
ALL FEES will be paid online through the Alpharetta HS main school website on the OSP page. "Online School Payments" is the first button from the left on the homepage. Search the course title and follow the prompts. LINK WILL BE ACTIVE 8.5.22. Thanks in advance for taking care of this.
Be sure to print your receipt at checkout! If this link is missing or not active by 8.5.22, please email Mr. Walsh.
EVALUATION:
Grading for Semester will be based on the following weights: 55% for Major assignments / assessments, 35% for Minor assignments / assessments, and 10% for Practice - which includes class participation. There will be no bell curve, bonus points, or multipliers applied.
Provision for Improving Grades
AHS RECOVERY/RISE (RE-TEACHING/INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT POLICY):
1. All students will have one (1) opportunity each nine-week period to redo/retake one (1) major assignment for improvement; eligibility for retakes is for students earning a 74 or below. However, you cannot improve your grade beyond a 75. In other words, a perfect score on the retake will be scored as a 75. Should you earn a grade lower than your original grade, the original grade will be applied.
2. Student retakes on a major summative assessment or assignment must be completed before the next summative assessment is given.
Make-Up Work:
late / missing work due to absence: You will have 1 week (5 days) to get work turned in for full credit. After that time period an M will be entered and a 10% reduction from score earned will be applied; missing work must be completed before next major assessment / assignment is due or an M will remain in the book. The work will still be accepted to the end of semester, but with 20% reduction in score earned.
Should a student be absent more than one consecutive week (5 days), it would be considered a prolonged absence. At AHS the Instructor, Counselor and grade-level Administrator will develop plan to deliver content and assess missed learning. Students may earn up to full credit for make-up work.
Present students that fail to turn in on time: An "M" will be entered into gradebook, the work must be completed before next major assessment / assignment is due, with a 15% reduction in score earned. Beyond that time the M will remain. This work will be accepted to the end of semester, but with a 25% reduction in score earned.
RISE SCHEDULE: MONDAYS, 7:40-8:15 AM / 3:25-3:50 PM, by appointment only.
AHS COMMON SYLLABUS
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Music used to be recorded on "tape" - really wide 2" tape! To get certain sounds in a recording (like simple reverb) used to require running sound into another room (echo chamber) or even going to another city - or another country to capture "the" sound. And if you made a mistake - you started over! Audio engineers got real good at splicing tape! It was very time-consuming, and tape (and time) were expensive. While hardware and tape is still used today, audio recording is truly a click-of-a-mouse away from reality. Yes, you still need quality musicians to create the music, but the process of capturing (recording) and producing audio can now be accomplished on a laptop, in the basement, with the right hardware, software and training!
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