Performance Sound

Course Details

Course Number: 3493  Fall 2010

Location: Fain Fine Arts Center

Classroom Number: B120

Course Attachments

Class Schedule  Performance Sound Semester Plan 2010-20120327-151806.doc

Textbooks
MSU Faculty Member
Don Henschel Jr.   
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Course Objectives

            Sound has always been a part of the theatre experience. . .from drumming by the fireside in prehistoric times through today's THX film extravaganza, "The Dark Knight."  Aristotle saw fit to include 'sound/mood/music' among his six essential theatre elements.  Few of us have ever heard the actual voices of George Clooney or Brittany Spears, the London Philharmonic or the Beatles.  Elvis was dead before any of you were born. . .yet these sounds and so many others are instantly recognizable to us because someone recorded them and found a way to replay that sound for us today.

            We might divide theatre sound into categories of reinforcement, recording and reproduction..

            Reinforcement can include the miking of performer, instruments. .a whole                 choir.  Few leading performers either on Broadway or in London's

                        West End go  without mikes these days.

            Recording is involved from the typical "preshow announcement," to the                                  battle sequences in War Horse, to a special phone for                          Cohn in"Angels in America." It can involve composing, arranging,                                 recording, mixing down,

            Reproduction involves transmitting those correct sounds, clearly, at a                                    pleasing volume and fidelity from the proper direction to the auditor.

            The scope of the course must be broad in order to cover these areas, and provide each of you with an appreciation of the art of the professional sound designer, and personally be able to accomplish the basic sound operations in an educational or community theatre environment. 

It's a big world. I took a full course called Audio Engineering a couple of years ago.  It covered only mikes and mixers.  I then took the first of five courses in ProTools, the digital editing program we are using,. . .one of a dozen such programs in common use.  It didn't even mention the hardware interface we currently have in our booth.   These are a small part of what we need to look at this semester.  It will take serious study, it will involve a good deal of work outside of class, and it will involve some creative thought.  If any of those three elements seem beyond what you have to give this semester. . .drop early to save money and time.  Otherwise, let's go to work.

            Almost everything we'll record, mix and replay, will be digital.  We'll be using two affordable texts: Sound and Music for the Theatre and Protools for Dummies. You'll need a ring binder, and you'll need to bring it to class each day.  Get one with a pocket or two, because you'll need to provide a couple of CDR's and you can keep them handy.  Most class meetings will be in the design lab and some in the booth.  Many meetings will involve set-ups and playbacks of pieces you have recorded and/mixed.  If it is your performance, make sure you have mikes, speakers, cables, mixer settings, CD input, and your CD ready to play at the top of the class.  We are your audience.  Don't make us wait while you trace a shorted cable


Grading Standards

Course grading will be based on 9 projects worth a total of 45 pts. #11 @ 15 pts, #12@25 pts and the final exam of 15 pts.  The instructor reserves the right to adjust or cancel assignments as the course progresses.  If, for some reason, assignments administered total somewhat more or fewer than 100 points, the method of obtaining the final grade will remain essentially the same:  the total points achieved will be divided by the total points possible to obtain a percentage, and a grade will be assigned according to the percentage scale outlined above.  Absences cost ½ a final letter grade each.

Federal privacy law prohibits me from releasing information about

 students to certain parties outside of the university without the signed consent of the student.  Thus, in almost all cases I will not discuss your academic progress or other matters with your parents.  Regardless of these important legal considerations, it is my general policy to communicate with the students, not their parents, even when a student has signed a consent form.  College students are adults and are expected to behave accordingly.

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a

disability, if you have emergency medical information that needs sharing, or if you need special accommodations in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with the me as soon as possible.


Submission Format PolicyNote: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.