User:Eastwood/research writing/ThesisProposal2

Graduate Proposal : Draft 2

What do you want to make?

I want to develop a performance and installation practice that includes traditional music techniques, and custom software instruments and effects. For my final work I want to examine music making within this situation as an exploration into to what effect these two distinct systems have on my creative practice. By pitting my training in jazz improvisation against algorithmic computer music, I want to understand how each tradition imposes restraints or enables the creative process.

Why do you want to make it?

For my research I want to examine to what extent we have human agency within complex systems. Focusing on music, and primarily music creation in relationship to technology, I want to see to what effect systems have control on our thinking, methodology, and output. By coupling traditional music techniques and theory, stemming primarily from a jazz improvisational background, and computer algorithmic instruments, I wish to examine to what extent the systems, and interactor impose changes on the other. On a practical level it will allow me to develop my music practice, both in the creation of programmed software instruments and effects, and my technique on my instrument, as well as further my general programing and research skills.

Relation to larger context

As society is built upon a complex network of interrelated systems, this research is the beginning of a research that I hope to apply to many other subjects. By using music as a isolated test-bed I am able to develop the tools that I can apply to other parts of my practice, and to wider issues that we face in our society. Music too, is situated within and affected by, more widespread systems that can be analyzed from this specific angle without restricting its reflection on music solely.

How do you plan to make it?

I have developed an algorithmic software instrument in PureData that is somewhat controlled using a MIDI foot pedal. With this running, I improvise on my saxophone in an attempt to make music, prompting the instrument to regenerate the melodic patterns at the push of a button, and modifying the length and complexity of the patterns with a pedal. I wish to develop the instrument to also analyse my playing and generate its melody accordingly (or opposingly), and to develop my improvisational language to adopt the software instruments melodic patterns.

For a final project I would like to highlight the individual systems in one form, and the coupling of the two in another. Maybe create an installation that performs autonomously, another that is a publication of my trascriptions in the style of a jazz compendium, and a performance where I and the instrument play a duet.

What is your timetable

• Software Development
• Transcription
• Reading & Experimentation reflection
• Developing instruments
  • Saxophone repair and service
  • Sythesiser building
• THESIS