
Jordan Natan Hochenbaum is an artist concerned with finding meaningful connections among music, art, and technology. His work involves designing novel interfaces for musical performance, multimodal sensor systems, and playing and composing in a wide range of musical styles. Hochenbaum actively releases music under the Natan H moniker. As co-founder of FlipMu, he has explored interactive works for large-scale multitouch surfaces, real-time data sonification, generative audio/visual systems, and open-source interface design. Together with Owen Vallis and Jasmin Ruiz Blasco, he has been working as The Noise Index, an art-and-research platform that explores questions emerging from increased access to information in the digital age.
In 2013 Jordan completed his PhD titled L’Arte di Interazione Musicale: New Musical Possibilities through Multimodal Techniques. Recently he has worked on anomaly detection at Twitter, while also on faculty at California Institute of the Arts, where he teaches a variety of classes in the Music Technology department. Jordan’s work has been featured online and in print, including Wired, Computer Arts, Make, and XLR8R Magazine, The Creators Project, on Processing.org and Rhizome.org, and at festivals and conferences including Google I/O, NASA’s Yuri’s Night, the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression, the International Society for Music Information Retrieval, and the International Computer Music Conference.




Harmony Jiroudek is active in the fields of vocal performance, arts education technology, and instructional design.
Jiroudek, an accomplished mezzo-soprano, has participated in several American and world premiere performances, including Michael Gordon’s What to Wear, George Aperghis’ Sextuor: L’Origine des espèces, and David Rosenboom’s Attunement. Other noteworthy performances include: Igor Stravinsky’s Les Noces and Mavra, Steve Reich’s Music for 18, Bruno Maderna’s Satyricon, J.S. Bach’s Cantata 170 with guest violinist, Elizabeth Blumenstock.
She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in vocal performance from California Institute of the Arts, where she also served as voice faculty from 2012-2014

Online programs assistant for the CalArts Office of Global Initiatives and Extended Studies. Current CalArts MFA student in flute performance.

Parinaz Yazdanparast was born and raised in Iran. She moved to the United States when she was 18 and she started her bachelors. After spending a few years doing civil engineering, she decided to go after her passion; music. She finished her bachelors in Music Technology with a minor in Audio production. She has been playing Tombak (Persian percussion) since she was 9 years old. She joined PergenEvents company in 2014 and works as a sound technician and DJ/Emcee since then. She worked in many festivals, weddings, and parties.. She joined CalArts community for her masters in Music Technology in September 2019.



Ajay Kapur is currently the Director of the Music Technology program (MTIID) at the California Institute of the Arts, as well as the Associate Dean for Research and Development in Digital Arts. He received an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in 2007 from University of Victoria combining computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, music and psychology with a focus on intelligent music systems and media technology. Ajay graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton University in 2002. Kapur has published over 100 technical papers and presented lectures across the world on music technology, human computer interface for artists, robotics for making sound, and modern digital orchestras.

Max Jaffe is a drummer, composer, and a new MFA student at CalArts' School of Music. He is currently working as an Online Programs Assistant for the Office of Global Initiatives and Extended Studies at California Institute of the Arts. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Performance from The New School in 2010 and spent the following several years touring nationally and internationally with a wide variety of artists representing cutting-edge music across genres, including Peter Evans, Cass McCombs, and Chrome Sparks. His work as a user of digital percussion system Sensory Percussion has led him to his current studies learning more about musical instrument interfaces and technology.

Spencer Salazar is a computer musician and researcher currently serving as Special Faculty at the California Institute of the Arts School of Music. His research and teaching is focused on mobile music software, systems for music programming, and computer-based music ensembles. Previously he pursued his doctoral studies at Stanford CCRMA, where his dissertation research concerned a modular sketch-based programming system for computer music. He has also created new software and hardware interfaces for the ChucK audio programming language, prototyped consumer electronics for Microsoft, and architected large-scale social music interactions for Smule, an iPhone application developer. He received a Bachelor of Science and Engineering in Computer Science from Princeton University in 2006 and received a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in Computer-based Music Theory and Acoustics from Stanford University in 2017.






The Foundations of Music Technology Program prepares learners for a career in Music Technology through courses taught by experts from California Institute of the Arts. This project-based program covers the fundamentals of digital audio, mixing and producing music using Ableton Live, sound synthesis theory and history using Reaktor, and an introduction to computer music programming using the ChucK programming language. Upon completion, students will be able to demonstrate mastery of core music technology skills and how they relate to one another.
Learning Outcomes
- Understanding of the fundamentals of digital audio, mixing, and production
- Understanding of sound synthesis theory and history
- Ability to utilize computer music programming knowledge to create original works
Overview
- Session 1: Introduction to Ableton Live
- Session 2: The Nature of Sound
- Session 3: Levels and Panning
- Session 4: Sculpting Frequencies: Equalization
- Session 5: Reverb and Space
- Session 6: Compression and Dynamics
- Session 7: Slicing and Dicing: Sampling in Live
- Session 8: Parallel Signal Processing: Ableton Racks
- Session 9: Inside/Outside: Advanced MIDI, Syncing Laptops, Mapping Strategies, and Audio Analysis
- Session 1: Intro to Synthesis
- Session 2: Subtractive Synthesis
- Session 3: Ring Modulation and FM Synthesis
- Session 4: Percussion Synthesis
- Session 5: Sequencers in REAKTOR
- Session 6: Wavetable Synthesis
- Session 7: Granular Synthesis
- Session 8: Physical Modelling
- Session 9: Additive Synthesis
- Session 1: Basics: Sound, Waves, and ChucK Programming
- Session 2: ChucK Libraries and Intro to Arrays
- Session 3: Sound File Manipulation in ChucK
- Session 4: Functions in ChucK
- Session 5: Unit Generators and Physical Models
- Session 6: Multi-Threading and Concurrency
- Session 7: Classes and Object-Oriented Programming
- Session 8: Live Control: Keyboard, Mouse, MIDI & OSC
- Session 1: The Music Technologist: Historical Examples and Case Studies
- Session 2: Music Technology: Intelligence, Interaction, and Design
- Session 3: Bring It All together: Project Proposal
- Session 4: Comment and Critique: Strategies for Effective Evaluation of Music Technology-Based Practices
Featured Coursework
- Create Your Own Instrument Rack in Ableton Live
- Build a Juno and a Minimoog in Reaktor
- Create a Techno-inspired Track in ChucK
Requirements
Equipment: Computer with installation privileges
Software: Ableton Live, Reaktor, ChucK
This program is at a beginner level, however a basic prior familiarity with digital audio, synthesis, or programming would be ideal.
- A verified Specialist Certificate that prove you completed the Program and mastered the subject.*
- A verified course Certificate for each individual course you complete in the program.*
* Each certificate earned is endorsed by Kadenze and the offering institution(s).
Price:
$400 USD
($600 USD)
ON SALE! That's
$200
off the original price!
ON SALE! That's $200 off the original price!
Specialist Certificate
Why join a Program?
Becoming a specialist in a subject requires a highly tuned learning experience connecting multiple related courses. Programs unlock exclusive content that helps you develop a deep understanding of your subject. From your first course to your final summative assessment, our thoughtfully curated curriculum enables you to demonstrate your newly acquired skills.