Syllabus

MaxMSP: Computer Music for Performers and Composers
Music 404B, Fall 2008
Instructor: Stephen Taylor
MWF, 10 - 10:50 am
CAMIL I lab (MB 5047)
School of Music, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Office hours: Monday and Wednesday at 11 am; room 5042.

Course Description:
Composers and performers will collaborate to create interactive works for instruments and singers, using Cycling 74's software MaxMSP.

Course Objectives:

• Learn the basics of amplification, microphones, mixers, digital audio interfaces, and midi
• Learn how to make patches in Max/MSP
• Learn the basics of Jitter, a set of video extensions to Max
• Collaborate with your colleagues to make new music
• Perform your completed works in December
• For performers: learn Max well enough to make adjustments and small patches yourself, and perform without requiring someone to set up equipment for you.
• For composers: make your patches bulletproof, so performers can use them without having you there to help them.
• For everyone: learn how to collaborate with others, make suggestions, accept criticism, and try new things.

Required materials:
MaxMSP, available from Cycling74 for Mac and Windows. MaxMSP is a graphical programming environment for music, audio, and new media. It's installed on all the computers in Camil I, but you are welcome to use it on your own computer if you have one. There are student discounts (including a $59 9-month authorization) here. Also, you can download and try it for free for 30 days.

Max has a steep learning curve. Because it is a powerful program that lets you do almost anything you can imagine, it doesn't force you into one way of doing things (for example, pressing "Play" or "Record"). But Max comes with massive (and fun) documentation, and they have just released version 5, which is quite a bit easier to use. There are lots of good online tutorials:

• Cycling74 has some good tutorials on their website - if you already know a little about Max, this tutorial by Andrew Benson is an excellent intro to some of the new features in Max 5.
• Also on Cycling74's website, check out the Max/MSP forum.
• www.maxobjects.com, a directory of thousands of external objects created by Max users around the world.
• Perhaps the single best tip: to get help on any object box in Max, you can option-click it.

As an alternative to Max/MSP, you can try the open-source Pure Data, developed by Miller Puckette, the original creator of Max.

Although we will supply microphones to use in the CAMIL lab, you need to bring your own headphones to listen to your computer output.

Evaluation:60% projects; 40% assignments. I hope for this course to be an opportunity to explore, meet new musical collaborators, and have fun. But I also want you to work hard! I'll give you verbal feedback on each assignment and project, and after the midterm project I will email you a written evaluation to let you know how you're doing in the class. If you have any questions on your grade or anything else, please ask me anytime.

Performance opportunities:
The main goal of the class is to make new music, both performances and improvisations. We’ll perform both for each other in class, and in venues on and off campus. If any of you know of opportunities - coffee shops, etc. - please let me know.

Our first public performance will most likely be in October. During the semester there is a series of lunchtime concerts at the Beckman Center on south campus. I would like us to present a plugged-in concert there, combining improv and composed music. We'll have to bring our own equipment; it also pays up to $75 for each performer. Performance date (tentative): 10/16.