This course offers students the opportunity to delve into the world of music and sound composition and generation on a professional level. Through a series of workshops and projects students will explore the fundamentals of sound and music composition particularly as it pertains to contemporary sound art practice in a variety of media, time based work, performance and/or installation. Subjects will include the principles of time-based composition and structures, rhythm + timbre, programming and strategies for the generation of event sequences, and the manipulation of temporal information. Utilizing a selection of dedicated software tools, such as Logic, Supercollider II, Pro-Tools and Max/MSP students will investigate methods of digital sound generation as well as consider computer assisted compositional processes. Examining work of a number of contemporary composers and sound artists will contextualize work. Regularly scheduled compositional projects will be undertaken emphasizing particular technical and aesthetic issues. No previous compositional experience required.