Computer-Assisted Music in Python

In this course we begin to explore the exciting world of algorithmic and computer-assisted composition using Python. Our home base for these explorations will be the newly developed framework called SCAMP (Suite for Computer-Assisted Music in Python). SCAMP has been designed both for creating acoustic, notated music and for communicating with digital audio workstations and sound synthesis languages like SuperCollider and Max/MSP, so the possibilities are endless!
During this first microcourse, we will acquaint ourselves with the SCAMP framework, and with some fundamentals of Python programming (e.g. working with variables, while loops, for loops), with an emphasis on exploring the potential of each concept for musical creation. So if you’re brand new to Python—or even to computer programming—you will have an opportunity to learn the basics. On the other hand, if you do have programming experience, this will be an opportunity to focus on the musical potential of Python, and of the SCAMP framework.
Marc Evanstein is the instructor for this micro-course.To preview Marc's teaching approach, check out his Youtube channel: music.py

• Congratulations!
• Congratulations on finishing Computer-Assisted Music in Python. Tell your friends! (And please complete the attached survey to give us feedback on the course!)
• Module 1 Welcome
• Welcome to the course and setup.
• Making some music
• In this session, we learn how to play notes using the SCAMP libraries, and familiarize ourselves with the syntax of calling functions, working with objects, and writing "while" loops in Python. Then we put it together to create some looping beats!
• Functions and forking
• In this session we learn how to create our own functions and fork them so that they happen at the same time.
• Module 3 Introduction to loops & sequences
• Welcome to Module 3, in which we learn about for loops and melodic sequences!
• Creating melodies and sequences
• In this session, we learn about "for" loops, "if" statements, and the modulo operator, and use these new tools to create melodies and musical sequences.
• Module 2 Exploring musical scripts
• Welcome to Module 2, in which we explore a couple of musical scripts and then create our own beat!
• Module 4 Putting it all together
• In this module we'll put together everything we've done so far.
• Taking your first steps in Python
• In this session, we learn how to write our first lines of code in Python, learn about the interpreter, and write a short script.