Author Archives: Studio User

My name is Randy Tung and I’m a Senior majoring in Computer Science. I started playing the trombone when I was 8, and I played up until the end of high school. During high school, I participated in Wind Ensemble, Brass Choir, Jazz Band, Symphonic Orchestra and Marching Band. I haven’t played an instrument since, but I’ve always wished that I continued playing my instrument, even if it was every once in a while.

I decided to take this class because I’ve always viewed creating music as a type of artistic expression, but I never had the opportunity to pick up another instrument, or learn any programs to assist in that. During my undergraduate years, I believe that I was lacking in opportunities for artistic expression, and this course may be the last chance I have for that. With that said, I’m very excited to take this class and create music.

Hi all, I’m Adam Lefkowitz. I am a senior double majoring in government and philosophy and minoring in music. I have been playing classical and jazz violin since I was three years old and have been messing around with production software since eighth grade. I’ve also been DJing for a few years now although I haven’t done it in a while. I like most types of electronic music and also enjoy classical. Looking forward to learning more about how I’ve been doing everything wrong with production software for close to a decade.

Hello people I’m Cagla (read as Chala, I know its hard). I’m a sophomore Fine Arts Major, English and recent Music minor. I play the piano (intermediate, I mean I’m good at learning but not at improv or anything) and have been singing since I was 6. So I do love singing I am down to help out in any vocals needed or collabs. I want to go into art and creative directing, focusing hopefully on video and music. As an art major though, I mostly draw, do photography and video or digital art. I have always been in love with music and as years passed I realized I wanted to make music but didn’t ever know how. So hopefully this class and others in the future will help me put the music in my head out into the real world. I am very excited and happy to work with others and learn from all of you! Also as someone who loves literature (obvious as an english minor) and wants to be a writer maybe I love writing and poetry so I will definitely try out lyric-writing too.

Favorite music or artists I would say include Muse and Radiohead, especially their song Exit Music is a favorite, I grew up with rock so Journey, Queen automatically come to mind. But I love a lot of genres from punk like Sex Pistols to rap such as Kendrick Lamar.

Hey guys, my name’s Arthur and I’m a senior majoring in Computer Science. I took formal piano lessons starting from back when I was 3 up to when I was 15 years old.  Although I haven’t played much since then, I think it would be fun to get back into playing and composing music, and I hope my musical background could help me a bit with the pieces I’ll make.

I’ve always been interested in the process of making music, from idea to composition and then to production and subsequent mastering. I believe that computer music is a way for people who might not have a background in other instruments to experiment a little and write something that sounds totally new, or that brings a new experience for the artist. I’m excited to be a part of this class this semester!

Hi everyone, my name is Huy Le. I am a senior in Biology (Genetics). Before coming to Cornell, I have been working in my hometown’s scene (Hanoi, Vietnam) as a show organizer, band manager and VJ. At Cornell right now I am working as a VJ, both for CornellRadio.com and by myself. I am excited to use this opportunity to start actually making my own music. I listen to a wide range of music, but in recent years I focus on the Japanese music scene in various genres. I am also interested in many “bedroom producers”, up-and-rising artists that I listen to on Soundcloud. Look forwards to a semester with you, and hmu if you want to discuss about music/collaborating.

Hey guys! My name is Annie and I’m a senior majoring in information science and minoring in game design. I have always had a large interest in music and have a very musical family. My dad grew up in Los Angeles working with and photographing artists like Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Joni Mitchell, etc. and I grew up playing piano with my dad on guitar & harmonica. In high school I started using Audacity to create mixes for choreographed dance routines, which was a jumping off point for my interest in sound design. I’m interested in how sound can create feeling and enhance a user’s experience with an interface, game, or in any environment. Last semester in intro game design I was a designer for the game Operation Bitwise, and also did some of the sound design for my game, but didn’t get to spend as much time on this as I would’ve liked. I am an active SoundCloud user, and am hoping to learn how to make my own original sounds in this class. I’m looking forward to a great semester!

Hi everyone. I’m Sawyer and I am a current freshman here at Cornell, currently majoring in biology but still pretty much undecided. I’ve been playing music for as long as I can remember. I started Cello when I was four years old but fell out of it around the start of high school. I have also played trumpet since fourth grade and played it in my school’s wind ensemble and jazz band. I’d have to say my favorite instrument though is the piano despite only starting it freshman year of high school. I was trained classically but after hearing a piano tuner play our upright at home, I started to try and emulate his style which I assumed to be  simple improvisation. I really like how with the piano, I’m able to play accompaniment for myself and play full chords as opposed to my previous instruments where I could only play a single line of notes.

For a while, I’ve been interested in recording my piano to make a loop so I could just focus on working each hand individually and I never really did that but I did get Logic this past summer and have experimented with that. I discovered a little about midi and found that I could edit them which I found to be pretty fun. So, when I saw this class, I knew I had to take it. I hope to be able to learn how to utilize a DAW to its potential and create a finished project. I like almost every genre of music and if anyone would like to collaborate, I’d love to do it.

Hi All,

My name is Dean Olin. I’m a senior in Information Science. Prior to coming to Cornell, I worked in the IT industry for about 13 years. About 4 years ago, I realized that I didn’t care for my career, so I decided to change careers. I hope to end up working in the data science field (data science + music would be ideal!).

I play the guitar (acoustic, electric, and bass), piano (beginner level, just enough for writing), and I sing in the Cornell Chorale. I have used Pro Tools before, so I’m not a complete newb, but I’m really looking forward to learning computer music in a structured format. I also attended music school for a year when I was younger, so I know a bit of theory etc…

Music is my favorite thing. I like to write songs, and would love to become proficient enough with a computer music workflow so that I can get to the point where the computer becomes a creative extension. I hope to be able to learn how to better produce my songs, as well as learn new and interesting ways to create sounds.

On a side note, I found the Professor’s example of using the sounds from a metal railing funny, because that is the sort of thing I would do. I have been frequently roasted by friends (in good fun) for stopping to “play” some object that I noticed had a cool sound. They think it’s weird; I think they’re weird for not noticing the cool sounds.

Hello.  My name is Anna Bores.  I am a Junior in ILR and I am minoring in music (I also might minor in PMA and inequality studies we’ll see what happens).  I am assistant musical director of Hearsay A Cappella and I am a member of Contrapunkt.  In terms of musical background I sing (I was a vocal major at LaGuardia High School of the Arts) and I play a little bit of piano.  I write music and I’m all over the place in terms of genre.  I’ve written Pop, Indie, Classical, etc., but my focus is probably Pop and Indie. I’ve only recently begun to explore electronic composition but it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite genres to compose.  The only program I’ve used is garageband so I am hoping that this class will help me master more advanced programs and create better electronic compositions.

Hello Everyone,

My name is Swetha Thiagarajan.  I am from Troy,NY(a really hipster place).  I’m a first semester sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering, while minoring in Business with the Dyson School.  I love playing tennis, and reading books.  I’m currently an RA in Mary Donlon Hall.

I’ve played piano and clarinet since I was in sixth grade.  I was in chorus for five years, but I don’t think I can sing.  I played classical music for six years, and dabbled in jazz band for two years.  I joined the class because I’ve always struggled with creating my own music but it’s always seemed very interesting to me. I don’t necessarily have a lot of previous knowledge about music software and the different editing techniques but I definitely want to learn.  I don’t really have an agenda per say yet and I’d like to make it as the class continues.  I still play piano occasionally and  I am interested in collaborating with others.