Music Technology & Theory
Eric Haltmeier, Director of Music
Music Production and Technology I & II
These courses introduce students to the fundamentals of music technology and the important role it plays in music today. Students receive hands on training in the music lab through projects and activities. The student is the artist, composer, producer and recording engineer with a final project recorded to CD. Each computer workstation is a complete, state of the art digital recording studio.
Topics include:
- Multi-track recording
- Sound Reinforcement
- Sequencing
- Digital Audio
- Music notation
- Garage Band
- Building a home studio
- Reason
- Computer and MIDI applications
- Band In a Box
- Sampling Music for corporate videos
- Microphones
- Film and T.V. music
- Drum Machines
- Music for video games
AP Music Theory
This course is the equivalent of two or more semesters of college music theory. Through listening, analyzing, interpreting and writing music, students will encounter the fundamental building blocks of melody, harmony, harmonic progression, modulation, voice leading, sight singing, melodic and harmonic dictation, texture, rhythm, form and phrase structure. Students are encouraged to use theory as a tool to inform their daily practice and performance of music. Both written and aural skills are emphasized. A final original composition is required to demonstrate mastery of the skills.
Advanced Music Inpdependent Study-Songwriting
This course is specifically tailored to students interested in the craft of songwriting. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- create many different settings of any lyric
- formulate techniques for melodies to interact with a variety of chord changes and develop these ideas into effective song sections
- emphasize a lyric hook using different melodic tools to build intensity
- construct strong, expressive melodies that audiences will remember
- learn how harmony can help to articulate the essential meaning of a song
Pingree alumni that have participated in the Music Production and Technology and Theory programs have been accepted to major in music technology at the following colleges:
- Berklee College of Music
- Gordon College
- Northeastern University
