TIMARA: Building a new undergraduate curriculum: Technology in Music and Related Arts at Oberlin Conservatory of Music

Symposium:

• ISEA98: Ninth International Symposium on Electronic Art

• TIMARA: Building a new undergraduate curriculum: Technology in Music and Related Arts at Oberlin Conservatory of Music

• Richard Povall

• The oldest undergraduate programme in electronic and computer music in the USA, offering degrees since 1969, has recently undergone a major shift in emphasis, and a major revision of its curriculum. Oberlin Conservatory of Music is one of the world’s leading conservatories of music, recognised for the strength of its offerings in classical music, particularly in instrumental music. The emphasis of the Technology in Music & Related Arts Department (TIMARA) has always been more than just music, and it has attempted to support multiple disciplines within the electronic arts. As of this academic year, students are able to define a wide variety of pathways through courses in digital media, composition, music technologies, performance technologies, computer science, and theory and history courses in music, art, dance, and theatre. This presentation highlights the new directions available within the programme, and discusses the development of an undergraduate programme that accelerates its students through the maze of technologies now available, whilst placing an emphasis on aesthetic, cultural, and compositional practice.

Category:

• Institutional Presentation