Music Technology / Audio Production
Class Syllabus on Canvas!
AHS COMMON SYLLABUS
AHS COMMON SYLLABUS
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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 elements of music. Unfortunately most Band, Chorus and Orchestra teachers are simply too busy preparing for the next performance to do much more than that. The byproduct was that students "might" pick up a little technical knowledge in their music class. THIS course is far different.
At AHS we spend a year full using hands-on teaching approach to learn the software and hardware used for audio production in the real world - and the byproducts of learning the technology will be learning about music ... and potentially acquiring career skills! |
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Our beginning course is for students with a lot, or a little - or even no formal music training. Obviously having a little music training is helpful, but this course teaches the technology first. Music fundamentals such as basic theory, 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. Each student seat includes a loaded Apple iMac Computer with up-to-date versions of software, Korg Krome 88-key workstation, Focusrite 2i4 Audio Interface, Shure SM58, and a Koss Coms headset running through a Korg GEC5 communications network for student listening and one-to-one instruction. Also available to each seat is a Fender Stratocaster Guitar and for those who play, access to a Roland digital drum kit for live recording.
Learning the Pro Tools software is the foundation and primary focus of the class. Pro Tools by AVID is the industry-standard DAW, not because it is "the best" (the "best" is highly subjective) but because it is the DAW most-recognized in the professional world, and that most-closely emulates the workflow of actual studio recording/mixing desktops. This makes it the software of choice for most major recording houses around the world today. In the end, students will be able to identify the fundamentals of basic audio recording through mixing and production, and 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 and because of our status at AHS as an AVID Learning Academy for Audio, will have the opportunity to take the AVID Certification test to earn the Avid Certified Associate Certificate—a new entry-level credential that provides a path to professional Avid Certification.
All Intermediate students will have the opportunity to earn AVID level-one Pro Tools certification at the end of the year. STUDENTS will be expected to keep up with course material using a combination of our in-house curriculum platform as well as Canvas. And since we are an Avid Learning Academy, intermediate students will also gain access to Elements ED learning platform for AVID and a 12-month subscription for AVID Pro Tools Artist to use at home. As a result, they will be able to access Pro Tools at home and at school.
Learning the Pro Tools software is the foundation and primary focus of the class. Pro Tools by AVID is the industry-standard DAW, not because it is "the best" (the "best" is highly subjective) but because it is the DAW most-recognized in the professional world, and that most-closely emulates the workflow of actual studio recording/mixing desktops. This makes it the software of choice for most major recording houses around the world today. In the end, students will be able to identify the fundamentals of basic audio recording through mixing and production, and 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 and because of our status at AHS as an AVID Learning Academy for Audio, will have the opportunity to take the AVID Certification test to earn the Avid Certified Associate Certificate—a new entry-level credential that provides a path to professional Avid Certification.
All Intermediate students will have the opportunity to earn AVID level-one Pro Tools certification at the end of the year. STUDENTS will be expected to keep up with course material using a combination of our in-house curriculum platform as well as Canvas. And since we are an Avid Learning Academy, intermediate students will also gain access to Elements ED learning platform for AVID and a 12-month subscription for AVID Pro Tools Artist to use at home. As a result, they will be able to access Pro Tools at home and at school.
Class Fees:
FOR BEGINNING STUDENTS: $65 student seat fee is charged to pay for software access and equipment upkeep.
FOR second-year students (intermediate): $100 student seat fee access to online course materials (from AVID), a 12-month subscription to Pro Tools Artist, and the cost of the AVID PT Artist Certification Exam. This student seat fee does not cover the annual support and maintenance subscription, which is actually $100 per-seat, per-year - so additional donations are welcomed! This allows us to keep our critical / essential hardware and software current. Food for thought: The first test for level one Pro Tools certification (exam) if taken outside of school is over $1000.00...
For Advanced and Mastery Students who have previously completed AVID testing, the seat fee is $65.00
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. Thanks in advance for taking care of this.
Be sure to print your receipt at checkout!
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: Thursdays, 7:40-8:15 AM / 3:30-4:30 PM, by appointment only.
FOR BEGINNING STUDENTS: $65 student seat fee is charged to pay for software access and equipment upkeep.
FOR second-year students (intermediate): $100 student seat fee access to online course materials (from AVID), a 12-month subscription to Pro Tools Artist, and the cost of the AVID PT Artist Certification Exam. This student seat fee does not cover the annual support and maintenance subscription, which is actually $100 per-seat, per-year - so additional donations are welcomed! This allows us to keep our critical / essential hardware and software current. Food for thought: The first test for level one Pro Tools certification (exam) if taken outside of school is over $1000.00...
For Advanced and Mastery Students who have previously completed AVID testing, the seat fee is $65.00
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. Thanks in advance for taking care of this.
Be sure to print your receipt at checkout!
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: Thursdays, 7:40-8:15 AM / 3:30-4:30 PM, by appointment only.
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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 spliced tape and started over! Audio engineers got real good at splicing tape! It was very time-consuming, and tape was expensive. While hardware and tape (to an extent) is still used today, audio recording is truly a click-of-a-mouse away from reality. The process of capturing (recording) and producing audio can now be accomplished with a laptop and interface, in any space, with the right hardware, software and training!
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