Mark Dresser

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Sound in Time is a two semester course taught by Mark Dresser at the New School University’s Department of Jazz and Contemporary Music. Designed for performers, the goal of this class is to connect composition, electro-acoustic music and improvisation. The first semester focuses on familiarizing the student with the parameters of sound through the study of acoustics and electronic music. It includes traditions in western & non western music performance, as well as notation, gaming strategies, listening tactics, graphics, conduction, poetics, and relevant metaphors outside of music. In addition, there is emphasis on individual research and the development of a personal sound vocabulary and performance practice. There are three major assignments: A thirty-second environmental transcription, a lexicon of personal sound vocabulary, and a composition utilizing the lexicons of the class.

In the second semester the course is predominantly a performance workshop. The emphasis is on creating new music through improvisation, analysis, codification and implementing these results in new structures. Students are encouraged to compose and develop new pieces throughout the semester. Both semesters conclude with a final performance.

The Sound in Time website is an ongoing resource, posting the lexicons of selected participants for the use of general music community. I am grateful for the creativity, enthusiasm and generosity of the contributors.