CCRMA

* General Information

 The Stanford University Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) is a multi-disciplinary facility where composers and researchers work together using computer-based technology both as an artistic medium and as a research tool.

Areas of ongoing interest at CCRMA include: Composition, Synthesis Techniques and Algorithms, Physical Modeling, Signal Processing, Digital Recording and Editing, Psychoacoustics and Musical Acoustics, Real-Time Applications and Controllers, Collaborative Works with other Art Disciplines and Music Manuscripting by Computer.

The CCRMA community consists of administrative and technical staff, faculty, research associates, graduate research assistants, graduate and undergraduate students, visiting composers, musicians and scholars, and industrial associates.

Center activities include academic courses, seminars, small interest group meetings, summer workshops and colloquia. Concerts of computer music are presented several times each year with an annual outdoor computer music festival in July. In-house technical reports and recordings are available, and public demonstrations of ongoing work at CCRMA are held periodically.

* Applying to become a PhD student at CCRMA

 Since CCRMA is multidisciplinary, we have Ph.D. students in several departments. However, all CCRMA faculty are formally within the Music Department Julius Smith has a courtesy appointment in Electrical Engineering which enables him to serve as primary thesis advisor for Ph.D. students in EE. We also have occasional Ph.D. students from Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, and the like.

Application for graduate study is handled by the department. CCRMA does not process admissions itself. However, when an EE student expresses an interest in music-related research, Prof. Smith is usually asked to comment on the student's prospects for pursuing research at CCRMA. CCRMA faculty also participate of course in the selection of Music Department Ph.D. students interested in CCRMA research.

Toward applying, please read the Stanford Bulletin (http://www-leland.stanford.edu/dept/registrar/bulletin/bulletin.html) regarding Ph.D. requirements in the department of your choice. The general Stanford URL is http://www.stanford.edu/.

The CCRMA Overview contains a summary of all CCRMA research, a description of all courses, and a bibliography containing all of our publications.

Good luck!

* The Masters Degree in Science and Technology

 CCRMA has its own masters program which is formally in the Music Department. It's a one-year program based entirely on course work, primarily at CCRMA:

* Master of Arts Degree with a concentration in Music, Science and Technology

This degree program is designed to meet an increasing need in the computer/music industries and in the arts and technology communities for the acquisition of knowledge and techniques from a number of disciplines that have reached a high degree of integration at CCRMA.

Interest within the computer industry in CCRMA's work is a result of multimedia capabilities becoming an important part of personal computers and workstations. Sound processing is the important complement to computer graphics in multimedia and is an area that is not broadly understood on an advanced level in the industry. There are, therefore, many well-trained engineers working in the area of sound processing who lack the specialized knowledge in the area for which they are responsible. CCRMA is well-positioned to provide that knowledge at a level of sophistication and depth not present in other programs. A unique attribute of CCRMA's courses and research, relevant to these industries, is the integration of music perception, music related signal processing and controllers, and synthesis.

* Description of the program

The program is designed for candidates having an undergraduate engineering or science degree or a degree that includes course work in engineering mathematics.

During the first three years of the program the number of students is limited to a maximum of 5.

To apply to the CCRMA MA/MST program, please contact the Stanford Music Department regarding admissions procedures.

The program will consist of three quarters for a total of no less than 36 units. The courses include subjects not normally taught in engineering curricula (Music 220a,b,c and Music 151) or not taught with the particular emphasis toward sound applications (Music 420 and 421). All of the courses listed below are currently being offered at CCRMA as part of the undergraduate and Ph.D. programs.

Three-quarter curriculum (all courses are in the Music Department, the number of units is right next to the course):

FallWinterSpring
192a [3] 192b [3] | 151 [4]
220a [4]220b [4]220c [4]
250a [4]250b [4] | elective [2 min]
320 [2]420 [2]421 [2]

* CCRMA Course Titles

MUSIC 120INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC SYNTHESIS AND PROGRAMMING USING MIDI-BASED SYSTEMS
MUSIC 151 PSYCHOPHYSICS AND COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY FOR MUSICIANS
MUSIC 154 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER MUSIC
MUSIC 192THEORY AND PRACTICE OF RECORDING
MUSIC 220a/b/c COMPUTER-GENERATED MUSIC
MUSIC 242SEMINAR: SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMPUTER MUSIC
MUSIC 319SEMINAR: SPECIAL TOPICS IN HEARING AND PERCEPTION
MUSIC 320,420,421SIGNAL PROCESSING FOR MUSIC RESEARCH
MUSIC 423GRADUATE STUDENT SEMINAR: SIGNAL PROCESSING FOR MUSIC RESEARCH

*Visiting Scholar & Visiting Researcher Information

CCRMA has a program whereby composers and researchers can spend a period of time at the center as a visiting scholar or visiting researcher (follow the links to read about Stanford's policies regarding visiting scholars and researchers). As a visiting scholar you must hold a Ph.D. (or its equivalent from a country other than the United States) or be a recognized expert in the field. All other applicants apply under visiting researcher status.

Application to this program is made by writing a letter of proposal for a residency to CCRMA's Director, Chris Chafe (cc@ccrma.stanford.edu). This letter should include the dates of the proposed visit, a summary of the project to be worked on while at CCRMA, a curriculum vitae and a CD containing samples of your work if you are a composer.

Requests for visiting status are evaluated on the feasibility of the project, availability of resources, and number of visitors in residence during the proposed time period. There are no scholarships or funds available for support. Visiting scholars or researchers must provide their own financial support. CCRMA will provide access to the facilities and courses, limited technical support, and when possible, desk space. A fee of $550 per academic quarter is requested to offset costs at CCRMA, and Stanford University assesses a fee of $990 to visiting researchers to offset its costs.

Proposals for visiting scholar and researcher residencies should be sent to: 

	Professor Chris Chafe
	CCRMA/Music Department
	Stanford University
	Stanford, CA  94305-8180
	Fax: (415) 723-8468
	E-mail: cc@ccrma.stanford.edu
The duration of a residency is usually no more than one year. It is of advantage to begin a residency with the start of fall quarter to coincide with the cycle of the courses at our center. We wish you the best of luck. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at (650) 723-4971 ex.300.
©2000 CCRMA, Stanford University. All Rights Reserved.
Created and mantained by Fernando Lopez-Lezcano, nando@ccrma.stanford.edu