Blog

Hello — I’m Chris Yu, a senior in computer science. I’ve been playing music in some way since the fourth grade, when I picked up the trumpet. I studied trumpet formally for several years, and I was very active in youth orchestras and ensembles throughout high school (and unfortunately less so during college). For the past few years, I’ve also been teaching myself to play the piano. One of my favorite pastimes has always been just to sit down with an instrument and improvise or play things by ear. I’d love to have the tools to take those musical ideas and turn them into a composition, especially blending traditional acoustic instruments with electronic ingredients. I’m looking forward to taking this class!

I am currently a senior in Operations Research and I’ve always been into playing music starting with the trumpet in 5th grade and then DJing beginning my freshman year of college.  I am currently a DJ for my fraternity house and also at the local club in college town (Pixel Lounge).  Two summers ago, I worked for a company that rented out sleeping tents to music festival attendees across the US.  I got to see 75 music sets all for free while working at Bonnaroo, Firefly, and Camp Bisco.  I’m very excited to be taking this class and have the opportunity to start making my own electronic music to incorporate into my DJ sets.   If there’s any other DJs in the class (or anyone interested in club music) I would love to collaborate.

My name is Marcus Wetlaufer. I’m a senior communications major but my main interests are music and radio related. I’ve been a radio DJ for around 8 years now and I’ve interned for 2 summers at SiriusXM as a music programmer (which sounds like coding but its not- I helped plan/organize/segue media content) and I’ve also interned at Atlantic Records and at the Jagjaguwar/Secretly Canadian/Dead Oceans sister labels in A&R and music discovery. I spend nearly all of my free time listening to and exploring new and niche fields of music. I also collect records and play guitar (poorly). I think there is so much room for creative and beautiful music in the digital space, especially in new and experimental music. I am so often inspired by the things i hear when it comes to computer generated and assisted music that this class seemed like the perfect place to expand my knowledge and get involved in the creation of it as well. Generally, I am fascinated by all things music-related and so this class really excites me as it looks like I am going to learn a lot about my greatest passion.

Hello,

My name is Matthew Williams and I am a senior in CALS studying Development Sociology. I have an interest in creating music and that is what drew me in to this class. My creative agenda is to make a song or two this semester. I have written some songs and had them come to life with the help of a few singers and a pianist, but I have never recorded anything.  I am interested in all types of music and I am excited to have a space to learn more about production and electronic music. I have been trying to teach my self to play the acoustic guitar, I enjoy freestyle rapping, and I am open to work with people.

Hi everyone,

My name is Cassidy Molina. I am a senior English major, concentrating in creative writing and minoring in Spanish Language and Anthropology. I’ve been playing the piano since I was a kid, and singing forever. On campus, I’m the Musical Director of The Key Elements, a co-ed rock a cappella group. I really enjoy singing with a group and arranging our music, but I am taking this class so that I can work more on my own work. I’ve written a lot on my own but I’ve never had a means of creating all of the sound that I wanted to, so hopefully I’ll be able to explore different styles and tools this semester. I have minimal experience with some of the software, but I’m excited to finally have access to these kinds of programs. I look forward to getting you know you all and hearing your work!

Hey everyone,

I’m Riley Owens, a sophomore in Arts and Sciences. I’m taking this class because I love music and I’m trying to create a new course of study here at Cornell that involves computer music and technology. I’m a huge fan of pioneers like Brian Eno and guys on the leading edge such as Jon Hopkins. I really like to blend the sounds of synthesizers with typical music setups in a similar way to Coldplay and The 1975. In addition, I’m interested in learning to create really glitchy sounds that make up tracks from Jon Hopkins’ albums, but also the more ambient pad like sounds from his earlier work and the work of Brian Eno. I’m primarily a guitar player and singer, and my favorite musician of all time is John Mayer. I like playing blues, and rock guitar, and I’m a complete gear maniac. My dorm is packed full of guitars and midi controllers and a few pedalboards. I can’t wait to learn more in this class, and if you have similar interests let’s collaborate!

i’m david, one of the TA’s for this course. as i mentioned on tuesday, i’m a pianist and have worked especially in the fields of new and experimental music, grounded in the classical and post-classical (can we say that yet?) traditions. however, i’ve always been musically omnivorous and am a big fan of artists from across a pretty huge spectrum–  everything from electroclash to bounce to classic delta blues, etc. i’ve had the good fortune of being involved with some pretty interesting projects involving electronic/digital/computer music over the years, but am sure that i will learn a lot along with everyone over the semester with this course. here is a performance from last year of a work by a really interesting composer/artist/sound artist named tristan perich for three toy pianos and three channels of one-bit tones that i was a part of for the UNPLAY festival in nyc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JInDkJeUAe0

tristan will be here in november for a residency, so if you find his work interesting let me know and i’ll keep you posted about his visit.  looking forward!

My name is Shelby and I am a senior in Civil Engineering.  I learned how to play the piano for about 5 years in elementary and middle school, but since then have lost a lot of what I learned.  When I have time in the future I would love to relearn how to play the piano and also learn the guitar.  I’ve always had a love for music and my playlists are composed of all different genres (movie soundtracks to top 40 to techno).  So even though I’m an Engineer and don’t have much background in this subject, I’m really excited about learning how to compose and mix my own music.  I’m also interested in working with others!!

Hi everyone! My name is Aarohee Fulay and I am a senior majoring in biology and psychology.  I played the piano for six years, violin for ten, and have had vocal training as well.  I am minoring in music and have recently gotten interested in music production. Since I am just getting started, I’m taking this class to learn more about different production and mixing techniques. If anyone else produces, I would love to hear their tracks as well as receive any tips they may have! I’m attaching one of my first compositions if anyone would like to listen.

Hi guys! My name is Skyler Gray, and I am a junior studying Engineering Physics. I have been an avid musician all of my life as a percussionist and pianist, writing and performing in all types of groups, from jazz to indie rock. As an engineering major, I am highly interested in learning more about electronically produced and synthesized music, something I love listening to but am not very well versed in at all. I certainly am in this class hungering for a new source of creativity, as both an engineer and musician.

P.s. If anyone is looking to make some music outside of class, especially if you are seeking a drummer, I’m your guy.

Can’t wait to read everyone else’s posts!