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TAC forum is a place for all TAC students to get together every week and discuss important topics in music, composition, sound design, emerging media and more. Many weeks we will have special industry guests joining us, from composers to sound designers, engineers and producers. This is a chance to broaden horizons and meet your idols!

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Students will receive weekly mentoring that involves critical feedback and recommendations regarding the student’s developing artistic and technical skills in compositional form, software and notation. The objective of this mentoring is to prepare the student’s portfolio for professional life upon graduation.

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Digital Music Fundamentals I and II make up a 2-semester series covering essential concepts, tools and skills for working with recorded audio, MIDI, and musical notation as a composer and sound artist. Students will develop their understanding of the tools and raw materials of digital audio to create hybrid acoustic-electronic mockups and session-ready files, stems, scores and parts, as well as media-ready audio assets. Students will practice audio, MIDI, and recording session workflows through exercises in orchestration and music/sound construction, emulating varied styles and moods. Constructive feedback among fellow sound artists is a central part of the course, as is creation of an open, safe environment for experimentation.

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Much of this semester will focus on thematic composition, the techniques of variation, imitation, and development, and the fundamentals of scoring to picture. DAWs will be used to realize and execute projects with larger instrumentation and/or compositions applied to visual media. The keyboard will continue to be emphasized as the primary and most essential compositional tool for this course. Students will regularly present or perform their work in class, and engage in discussion around their creative and compositional process. Instructor feedback will be given in class and on graded assignments. This course intends to provide a safe environment in which openness, experimentation, and constructive feedback between everyone is highly valued and encouraged.

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This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the recording studio, delving into the essential components and processes involved in creating professional audio recordings. Students will engage in hands-on experiences with industry-standard recording equipment, directly applying the concepts explored in each lecture. Designed as an exploratory course, it prepares students for advanced studies in music technology while also serving as a valuable refresher for those looking to enhance their audio production skills. Throughout the course, students will develop a deep understanding of both the technical and musical aspects that contribute to successful recording projects. In addition to structured lectures, students may be asked to bring their instruments or coordinate an ensemble for live recording sessions, providing real-world practice in a studio setting.

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This course focuses on the principles of mixing and delivers practical experience in a hands-on setting.

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This class covers state-of-the-art techniques that are used in designing sound for various types of video games and immersive environments. Theoretical topics in the history and development of modern video games are discussed and analyzed. Additionally, students work hands-on to create, record, edit, mix and integrate sound into various types of real working games using a game engine. Activities include hands-on creation of sonic landscapes using a Digital Audio Workstation for the development of sound effects, music and Voice Over elements & then implementing them into working “Game Lesson” that can be used as portfolio pieces.

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This course introduces students to the world of sound design, covering essential concepts and techniques for creating impactful auditory experiences across various media, including games. The structured syllabus and hands-on assignments explore Musique Concrète, synthesis techniques, Foley artistry, as well as specific areas like UI sound design, sonic branding and audio for games and film.

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This course introduces studio technology as a vehicle for realizing musical ideas through listening and practice. The keyboard is the primary instrument for the student to realize goals. Other tools will be explored. Students will engage in the analysis of traditional and multimedia works with corresponding scoring assignments and be introduced to basic production techniques through exercises corresponding to sonic quality, compositional methodology, aesthetics, and context.

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Basic techniques for implementation and industry workflows using middleware software such as Audiokinetic Wwise. Students learn how a game is scored and implemented into an interactive medium with professionally simulated workflows.

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Students practice the art of mixing and mastering audio for efficiency and excellence in sound. Students learn to organize and manage content, files, documentation, and prepare mixed deliverables. Students develop their ears for mixing and mastering through hands-on exercises and listening assignments enabling confidence and learning best practices for sharing content.

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This course will build upon the compositional techniques taught in the fall semester and explore their application in different musical forms. Much of this semester will focus on thematic composition, the techniques of variation, imitation, and development, and the fundamentals of scoring to picture. DAWs will be used to realize and execute projects with larger instrumentation and/or compositions applied to visual media. The keyboard will continue to be emphasized as the primary and most essential compositional tool for this course. Students will regularly present or perform their work in class, and engage in discussion around their creative and compositional process. Instructor feedback will be given in class and on graded assignments.. This course intends to provide a safe environment in which openness, experimentation, and constructive feedback between everyone is highly valued and encouraged.

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Through group listening, discussion and guided projects students explore their roles as artists in contemporary context with a focus on genre-agnostic language, the human-technology relationship and electroacoustic music. By finding common musical terminology students open themselves further to diverse concert experiences, and apply these concepts to their own creative output.

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TAC352: This course teaches the essential skills for composers and producers who work in a contemporary production environment. These skills are learned through the process of writing music for a fictitious video game. The course provides a foundational understanding of composition and production techniques, workflow, studio etiquette, and writing for a live studio ensemble. The course will also cover more abstract, but necessary skills including hitting the right emotional tone, understanding the client’s needs, and addressing revision requests. Course format includes lectures, visiting artist presentations, and hands-on production workshops done in class. TAC353 This course teaches the essential skills for composers and producers who work in a contemporary production environment. These skills are learned through the process of writing music for a fictitious video game. The course provides a foundational understanding of composition and production techniques, workflow, studio etiquette, and writing for a live studio ensemble. The course will also cover more abstract, but necessary skills including hitting the right emotional tone, understanding the client’s needs, and addressing revision requests. Course format includes lectures, visiting artist presentations, and hands-on production workshops done in class.

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TAC354 ‘Game Audio Forces You To Think Like A Game Designer’. This quote from author Richard Stevens sums up the basic premise of this course. In order to create compelling and innovative sound and music for games, you need to think like a game designer. Games can come in a myriad of forms and each one of them might handle the sound and music differently than another one will. On top of this there may be several different ways to handle music and sound event triggering, even in the same game. This course will focus equally on analysis of existing games as well as existing game projects in order to learn how they are built. In addition to this we’ll also cover the role, responsibilities, tips and techniques that working game audio professionals use when collaborating with others in creating fun and awesome games. Subjects covered here include asset lists, important questions to ask your team, utilizing source control and version tracking and other relevant topics. There will be a hands-on element here as well as some freedom to choose game projects, and meetings and exchanges with game design students outside campus that you will be collaborating with on game projects next semester in the TAC 355 course. TAC355 This is not a class, it is a gig! Designed as an interactive audio co-lab. Students will complete this course with the understanding and experience of working collaboratively, creatively and hands on. Participants will experience working in various roles in the video game development process: Audio Lead, Composer, Sound Designer, Mixing Engineer, Music Editor, Music Implementor, and QA. Game music design is a skill that requires both technical knowledge and artistic intuition. Students will explore their opportunities to a career path in the game industry and have a chance to work as part of an audio team as they work alongside a game design team to create original playable works for their portfolio.

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TAC211 This course introduces studio technology as a vehicle for realizing musical ideas through listening and practice. The keyboard is the primary instrument for the student to realize goals. Other tools will be explored. Students will engage in the analysis of traditional and multimedia works with corresponding scoring assignments and be introduced to basic production techniques through exercises corresponding to sonic quality, compositional methodology, aesthetics, and context. TAC 330 Film Co-Lab is the culmination of the Scoring for Film sequence. Having developed the techniques and tools for composing film music for many different genres, emotions, and instrumentations, students will now have the experience of real-world application. They will be paired with a filmmaker and collaborate with them to score their film. Throughout the process, students will be mentored on compositional methodology, aesthetics, and building successful collaborative relationships across different artforms. This exciting opportunity is possible through a partnership with SF-Film or other local organization.

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TAC440 This class provides students a practice-based introduction to cutting-edge audio technology and contextual sound production in emerging media, exploring topics such as: spatial audio, virtual reality (VR / AR / MR), and artificial intelligence. Through these lenses, students will investigate and apply novel recording techniques, sound design, music production, sound perception, creative acoustics, and developing technology. Students will gain a foundational understanding of these technologies by actively engaging with them in a rigorous, but collaborative format. Along the way, students will complete smaller assignments to gain facility with discussed topics and technologies, and this class will culminate in a final project and presentation. TAC441 This class provides students a practice-based introduction to cutting-edge audio technology and contextual sound production in emerging media, exploring topics such as: spatial audio, virtual reality (VR / AR / MR), and artificial intelligence. Through these lenses, students will investigate and apply novel recording techniques, sound design, music production, sound perception, creative acoustics, and developing technology. Students will gain a foundational understanding of these technologies by actively engaging with them in a rigorous, but collaborative format. Along the way, students will complete smaller assignments to gain facility with discussed topics and technologies, and this class will culminate in a final project and presentation.

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TAC 320 Welcome to an innovative class that pushes the boundaries of music creation by seamlessly integrating singer-songwriting, advanced technology, and abstract noise art. This course is designed for musicians eager to break free from traditional constraints, embracing the intersection of diverse genres and pioneering sonic landscapes. During semester 1 of this two-semester course, students will explore dynamics between composing and performing, and sound technologies across genres – including singer-songwriter, abstract noise art, incidental music and more. Semester 2 takes a deeper look at interactions between composing and performance, including building custom instruments and controllers, innovative approaches to sound manipulation, and approaches to combining audio with visuals for live performance, pop music, and sound installations. While any DAW may be used, DAW demonstration of taught concepts will be carried out using Ableton Live for section one of this course. TAC321 Welcome to an innovative class that pushes the boundaries of music creation by seamlessly integrating singer-songwriting, advanced technology, and abstract noise art. This course is designed for musicians eager to break free from traditional constraints, embracing the intersection of diverse genres and pioneering sonic landscapes. During semester 1 of this two-semester course, students will explore dynamics between composing and performing, and sound technologies across genres – including singer-songwriter, abstract noise art, live audio-visuals and more. Semester 2 takes a deeper look at interactions between composing and performance, including building custom instruments and controllers, innovative approaches to sound manipulation, and approaches to combining audio with visuals for live performance, pop music, and sound installations.

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TAC440 This class provides students a practice-based introduction to cutting-edge audio technology and contextual sound production in emerging media, exploring topics such as: spatial audio, virtual reality (VR / AR / MR), and artificial intelligence. Through these lenses, students will investigate and apply novel recording techniques, sound design, music production, sound perception, creative acoustics, and developing technology. Students will gain a foundational understanding of these technologies by actively engaging with them in a rigorous, but collaborative format. Along the way, students will complete smaller assignments to gain facility with discussed topics and technologies, and this class will culminate in a final project and presentation. TAC441 This class provides students a practice-based introduction to cutting-edge audio technology and contextual sound production in emerging media, exploring topics such as: spatial audio, virtual reality (VR / AR / MR), and artificial intelligence. Through these lenses, students will investigate and apply novel recording techniques, sound design, music production, sound perception, creative acoustics, and developing technology. Students will gain a foundational understanding of these technologies by actively engaging with them in a rigorous, but collaborative format. Along the way, students will complete smaller assignments to gain facility with discussed topics and technologies, and this class will culminate in a final project and presentation.