MUS 3172: Composition in Electronic Media
Instructor: Dr. David Heuser / Office: 3.02.20 Arts
Phone: 458-5321 - email: david.heuser@utsa.edu
Office Hours: TBA or by appointment
Web page: http://music.utsa.edu/electron/MUS3172.htm

Course Description:
This course is essentially a course in composition, and each student's goals will be highly individualized. Together, we will set these goals at the beginning of the semester. In general, though, our aim is to further your ability as a composer, and to stretch and refine the musical vocabulary in your music. Each student will also be expected to learn to use at least one new piece of equipment. This course will meet once a week as a group to discuss student's progress, play projects in the works, assign listening or reading assignments, cover technical information, discuss new equipment or software, etc.

Goals of the Course
After successfully completing this course, the student should have an original composition which they created using the electronic studio. In the process, students should have learned and/or mastered at least one new piece of equipment or software program; students should also have expanded their compositional abilities.

Grading and course policies

• You must finish at least one piece for each semester you are enrolled in composition lessons. This project will be performed either at the end of the current semester, or the during the following semester.
• You will be graded on your work each week, and the bulk of your grade will be determined by these weekly grades. Therefore you must attend class in a timely way, and regularly write music each week.
• Any assignments I give you (reading and listening assignments) should be completed in a timely fashion.
• You must also attend composition seminars (Tuesdays from11:00-12:00 in AR 2.03.08 when MUS2001 is not meeting), as well as special guest seminars. This semester, regular seminars are on: January 23, January 30, February 13, February 20, February 27 (with guest composer Roger Steptoe), March 20, March 27)

Web site
The UTSA Electronic Music Studio's web site is http://music.utsa.edu/electron/. You will also find the MUS 3123 web site useful: http://music.utsa.edu/electron/MUS3123.htm.

Communication: If you need to contact me, there are a number of ways to do it. I am usually in my office, and will often be available to see students outside of posted office hours. If my door is closed, please check the schedule next to my door before knocking to make sure you are not interrupting a lesson or lunch. You can also reach me via my office phone and email, which are listed above and on the web (http://music.utsa.edu/Faculty/heuser/index.html). Emails should be courteous and formal, with proper spelling, capitalization, etc., and with a subject line that clearly states the purpose of the message. Ambiguous subject lines may result in an email being deleted as suspected spam. All Music Department faculty also have mailboxes located in the music office (3.01.58). If you would like to put something in my mailbox, give it to the office staff and ask them to place it there. If you have a concern, problem, question, issue or whatever, the best thing you can do is talk to me about it. Stay in touch!