User:TenaciousTbrown

University of California Santa Cruz: Electronic Music and Digital Arts and New Media (DANM)

This is my personal Wikipedia user page that I am using to write about UCSC's Electronic Music and Digital Arts and New Media programs. The University of California Santa Cruz has a prestigious music department ^[1]. In addition, the Digital Arts and Research Center (DARC) ^[2] has been recently finished and opened in the Fall of 2009, harboring the Digital Arts and New Media program.

Electronic Music

The UCSC Electronic Music program was founded in 1970 by faculty member Eric Regner after assembling a Moog synthesizer. As of today, the studios are valued at nearly $300,000, containing sophisticated synthesis, recording and computing equipment. This includes the first Moog from 1970 and the latest digital software. Students can produce digital multi-track recordings, use computers to synthesize sounds or make interactive components for live performance ^[3].

Included in the equipment are dynamic microphones and condenser microphones for recording. There is a sixteen channel Mackie Onyx Mixer that allows for multi-track recording and playback. The mixer inputs and outputs are attached to a large patch bay that takes quarter inch cables to connect. Also connected to the patch bay are an array of audio processors: this includes a spring reverb, digital delay, compact disc burner (HHB 830 CDR Recorder), harmonizer, compressor and more. The AV gear allows projection of video and audio connection, which is valuable for lectures. A Macintosh computer with dual monitors allows the student to efficiently edit and compose their music with many professional software programs such as: Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Peak, Tassman and more. In addition to the computer software, there is an M-Audio FireWire interface installed to give high quality audio sampling rates. A MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) controller keyboard allows for live sampling and MIDI writing/recording in Pro Tools or Logic Pro. There is also an analog PAIA 9700 that was hand assembled by Peter Elsea for the studio; this instrument and the MIDI keyboard are both synthesizers.

The Electronic Music department is headed by Peter Elsea; David Cope is a composer that focuses on music and artificial intelligence, and is another professor at UCSC. It has been visited by Roger Reynolds, Maggie Payne, David Rosenbloom, Brian Eno, and John Cage. It contains multiple studio rooms that have professional quality recording equipment and software. ^[4]

Electronic Music Minor

Electronic Music is a minor offered through the department that offers three electronic synthesis classes: Music 123, 124, 125. Each student must sign up for four hours of designated studio time per week at the beginning of the course, and are later allowed to sign up for another flexible four hours every week. Due to the capacity of the Electronic Music Studio's (EMS) and the amount of time each student is required to have in the studios, there can only be 25 students accepted into the synthesis sequence each year. There is an application process in the Fall that requires the student to describe their preparation and desire for taking the course. In order to receive a minor in Electronic Music, the student must complete:

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Inside the Electronic Music Studios (EMS)

Music 11
Music 13 (may be satisfied through the music core curriculum placement examination)
Music 14 (may be satisfied through the music core curriculum placement examination)
Music 80C, 123, 124, 125, and 167 (sequence)
Music 80L or 80R (or a similar music course with a technical focus as approved by the department)
Physics 80A or an introductory computer programming course such as Computer Science 12 or 60.

Digital Arts and New Media

The Digital Arts and New Media (DANM) program focuses on the study of digital media and the culture it creates. The DANM MFA program is two years long, and has four directions: New Praxis, Studies, Collaborative Research, and Pedagogy. The New Praxis includes critique and practice that enables students with practical training and critical dialogue. The Studies focus on culture in digital arts, as well as genealogies and theory. Collaborative Research involves publications and exhibitions in the categories of Mechatronics, Participatory Culture, Performative Technologies, and Playable Media. Pedagogy trains students with practical experience in teaching assistantships and involvement in faculty workshops ^[5].

Digital Arts and Research Center

Since the construction of the Digital Arts and Research Center (DARC), the DANM program has been moved to that location. The building stands three stories tall, with ground level entrances to each floor. It is nearly 25,000 square feet in size, and is shared by the DANM MFA program, as well as the Art, Music, and Theater Arts departments ^[6].

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The Digital Arts and Research Center (DARC)

The DARC has many facilities, rooms and studios for the three departments: The Art department has a drawing studio, faculty studios, and a digital photography center. The Music department includes a graduate student research area for electronic music, faculty offices and a music lab. The Theater Arts department also includes graduate offices.

References and External Links

^ Music Department http://music.ucsc.edu/
^ DARC http://art.ucsc.edu/facilities/darc
^ Electronic Music History http://artsites.ucsc.edu/EMS/history.html
^ UCSC Electronic Music Minor http://music.ucsc.edu/undergrad/electronic_minor.html
^ DANM Programs http://danm.ucsc.edu/programs
^ DANM and DARC http://danm.ucsc.edu/web/darc

[1] Music Department http://music.ucsc.edu/

[2] DARC http://art.ucsc.edu/facilities/darc

[3] Electronic Music History http://artsites.ucsc.edu/EMS/history.html

[4] UCSC Electronic Music Minor http://music.ucsc.edu/undergrad/electronic_minor.html

[5] DANM Programs http://danm.ucsc.edu/programs

[6] DANM and DARC http://danm.ucsc.edu/web/darc

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