This course will provide a broad perspective on the field of Sound Studies, with a special emphasis on Sound Art, Sonic Architecture and Design, together with interaction. We will consider a range of relevant theories, methods, tools and examples, with each participant being invited to explore this field through a combination of lectures, listening sessions, in situ experiments, and workshops. These approaches will be complemented with individual and group-based practical creative work and projects.
Course participants will develop their skills via the realisation of a collective environment, to be exhibited at the end of the course (practice-based learning). Within this collective frame, each contributor will have the opportunity to explore their own tools and ideas.
Course leader: Ricardo Atienza, Robin McGinley
Contributors: Niklas Billström, Monica Sand, Leif Jordansson, Cara Tolmie, Martin Ljungdahl, Josefin Lindebrink, Philip Arnold
Target group:
Artists, architects, interior designers, music/sound designers or persons with equivalent professional experience. No particular previous knowledge in sound is required to take part in the course
Main course content:
- Sonic “cultures”: The experience of listening.
Relevant works and texts in Sound Art, Architecture and Design Research.
Daily sonic environments: main concepts, methods, and strategies.
- Audio techniques: Essentials of sound generation, recording, editing, composing and processing.
Overview of the main editing and generative audio tools, both hardware and software (with special attention to open source software)
- Real-time and interactive processes: Sonic flow generation and manipulation, open generative processes
Graphical programming environments for sound and interaction: Pure-Data, IanniX, and other open source software
Low-tech and DIY forms of sound production
Introduction to microcontrollers, sensors and hardware extensions: Raspberry-Pi, Arduino
Intended learning outcomes:
After completing the course, the student should be able to:
-Explore and discuss relevant interactive sound projects in the fields of Art, Architecture, Design and Research.
- Describe sound: an overview of the main sonic concepts, methods, and strategies.
-Explain essentials about sound generation, recording, editing, composing and processing,
-Work in the main editing and generative sound tools (software / hardware) with special attention to the free sound software domain,
- Work with real-time and interactive processes, Sonic flow generation and manipulation, evolving from close to open generative processes.
-Work with data and image/video interactive structures in Pure-Data.
-Work with, apply and assimilate the concepts, methods and tools explored in the course, through the realization of individual and collective sound projects, creative exercises and experimental interactive environments.
Examination:
The evaluation will be based on an individual completed interactive sound project in dialogue with the environment produced collectively that will constitute a contribution to the final exhibition.
Language of instruction: English
Education level: Second cycle
Entry Requirements
Bachelor's degree from art, architecture, interior architecture, music / sound and design or equivalent professional experience.
Selection
The selection is based on an overall assessment of the applicant’s portfolio and letter of motivation.
Study period and study pace:
The course starts 29 August 2022 and ends 4 June 2022.
Study pace: 50%
Location: Konstfack
Course syllabus: KOY028
Schedule: Thursdays and Fridays of even weeks, self-directed work in between sessions.
How to apply
1. Apply to universityadmissions.se
The application is open between 15 March and 19 April.
Apply to the course at universityadmissions.se (antagning.se for Swedish speaking applicants), and send qualifications to support the entry requirements.
2. Submit files to konstfack.se
Portfolio + letter of motivation as 1 PDF file, and/or optional work samples of sound production/moving images (maximum 2 files)
Accepted file formats: PDF, MP3, MP4, MOV.