Course Descriptions
Creative Website Design
Build your own personal, creative, or small business website. Through hands-on tutorials and one-on-one instruction, you will become familiar with the mechanics and functioning of professional websites, current trends in design, and website theory. This course will help even the most non-web savvy user learn the ropes to website creation and publishing. By the end of class you can expect to have a basic knowledge of HTML and CSS code and its functions. You will also learn to use professional industry software such as Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 for page layout as well as Photoshop CS4 for image editing and rollover creation. The course will briefly cover SEO (search engine optimization) and how to make your site search friendly. This class will cover static webpage creation only and will not cover e-commerce shopping carts, blogs, forums, database driven web applications, Flash animations, or Flash Action script. No prerequisite.
Graphical Programming Environments for Sound and Media: A Beginners guide to Max/Msp/Jitter
This course explores the use of Max/Msp/Jitter, an interactive graphical programming environment for music, audio, and media on Macintosh platforms. For over twenty years this software has been used by: artists, musicians, scientists, and educators to create truly unique customized programs for sound, video, multi media, and data re-interpretation. Max's graphical interface allows non-programmers to create programs without having to learn or write code via interconnecting different pieces from a library of objects that represent small snippets of code. This course will introduce students to the basics of Max's programming interface, and teach students to construct their own patches (custom audio programs created within Max) enabling them to create sound generation, sampling, and video playback/manipulation that can be controlled with external controllers such as: game controllers, OSC, midi devices, and custom controllers made from Arduino micro controllers outfitted with a variety of sensors and actuators. Students will gain an understanding of the way digital audio works, how to navigate and create with Max software, and how to interface common sensors with micro controllers. They will also gain the practical knowledge and problem-solving skills to develop and design their own interactive installations, sculptures, and instruments for performance based art, or experimentation.
D.I.Y. Handmade Instruments
This course will instruct students to create their own instruments start to finish out of inexpensive and found materials. The class will cover the creation of simple string, wind, and percussive instruments made from wood, plastic containers, PVC tubing, piano wire, and glassware among others. Students will start by learning the fundamental science behind pitch, vibration, and how to achieve exact tonal value through the density, size, and shaping materials. They will follow outlined instructions to create several small playable instruments that model actual commonplace instruments. Instruments are tuned to precise pitches and keys making them suitable to be used in music production or to accompany other musicians. Students will be encouraged to customize and personalize their instruments and to explore the use of alternative materials in instrument building. After the creation of an instrument the class will hold periodic "jam" sessions to play instruments as a group and give each other feedback. No previous musical ability or knowledge required. Some basic knowledge woodworking tools: saws, and shop equipment is assumed in this course.
