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DRAM 7620:  Mentored Study in Sound Design
Meeting Times:  TBA
Culbreth Booth
Instructed by Michael Rasbury

OFFICE:
Michael Rasbury, Room 208B, Culbreth Theatre
Schedule appointments by phone at (434) 982-4542 or by email at mr2xk@virginia.edu.  I check email daily.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DRAM 7620 is a faculty-guided study in an area of sound design and/or technology not covered in the established curriculum.  DRAM 7620 is designed to stimulate understanding of both the aesthetic and technical aspects of sound and sound design.

Option 1:
The first option allows graduate students to customize a plan for study of the process, equipment, and artistry of sound design for the theatre.  Given each students’ prior knowledge of aspects of sound design for the theatre, each participant’s plan of study will be unique.  This study is student driven with guidance from the instructor.

Option 2:

The second option is to participate in the current semester’s production as Sound Designer.  Option two requires preexisting knowledge of manipulation of sound using the computer and traditional sound equipment.  The graduate student will be responsible for analyzing the play, providing a paper design (cue sheets, sample sounds, sound plots, etc.), interfacing with the greater collaboration of designers for the production, and providing a final product complementary to the show.

REQUIREMENTS:
Binder Notebook

Stereo Headphones with both quarter-inch and eighth-inch adapters (for monitoring)

CD-R’s (for submission of projects)

Students will be responsible for all work regardless of computer failures such as corrupted discs.  Students are responsible for creating a "back-up" of each project.  The following media can be used:  CD-R (650-700 MB), CD-RW (650-700 MB) reusable, or

DVD-R 2X (4.7 Gigabytes)

ATTENDANCE POLICY:
You should make every effort to be present at each class period.  Excused absences are permitted.  To receive an excused absence, please notify me before the absence or provide an official notification after the absence.  Each unexcused absence will result in the lowering of your final grade percentage by three (3) percentage points per absence.

SUBMISSIONS:

Options 1 and 2
Before starting any individual project or a design for production, a design statement must be submitted to me via email at mr2xk@virginia.edu.  A design statement is a declaration of purpose and plan for construction of an idea.

Option 1:

Upon completing each project submit two copies.  One copy should be an audio CD-R of the design.  The second copy should be a data CD-R of your files.  Label each disc with your name, project name, CD type, and length of the project.  In certain cases, projects may be submitted via upload to a local server.

Option 2:

As sound designer for a University production, it is expected that all paperwork (cue sheets, signal flow diagrams, ground plans, script notes, etc,) be bound together as a portfolio representing the sound design for the given production.  Copies of each sound cue reduced to stereo should also be included on CD-R as part of the portfolio.  The portfolio should be comprehensive enough for an outside reviewer to understand in lieu of seeing (or hearing) the production.

GRADING SCALE:

Option 1:
There will be no midterm or final exam.  Each project will receive equal percentage of the final possible 100% grade.

Option 2:
Graduates who commit to the entire process of sound design for a production by observing all production calendar dates, meeting all required deadlines, providing all necessary paperwork (paper design, cue sheets, etc.), providing and/or creating all necessary sound effects, successfully implementing the design and providing the instructor with a complete portfolio of the design will receive an A.  Less than 100% effort will result in an F.

Students needing special accommodations are encouraged to discuss the need with the professor as soon as possible.