The University has tried to implement new technology in all areas of academia, and the McIntire Music Department is no exception.
The department has began using a technology in the classroom that focuses on studying and creating computer music.
Judith Shatin, an internationally recognized composer and chairwoman of the music department, has pioneered the computer music program at the University.
"Computer music is composition and performance that uses devices with computers," Shatin said. "We can create sounds using software. We can sample and process any sound in the world."
Shatin said her interest in computer music stems back to when computers were still fairly new.
"I started becoming interested in computers when I was in graduate school," she said. "In the late '80s I got intrigued by MIDI which enables computers to send messages to synthesizers."
With financial support from the University community, Shatin founded the Virginia Center for Computer Music in 1988 for composing and researching computer music.
According to Shatin, the center offers students and faculty a chance to create compositions and research computing and technologies.
Even though the music seems to be artificially created, Shatin maintains she still writes her own music.
"With computers, you can actually take sound itself and get to the heart of it, Shatin said. "You can take sounds in the real world and transform and create sounds."
Kirby Watkins, a second-year College student who plans to major in music, said he agreed with Shatin.
"Using computers for music makes it sound better. It opens up avenues for music," Watkins said.
The program gained popularity in past years with 50 students taking the four classes offered.
"We're currently turning away many students," Shatin said.
Shatin said she hopes to make many more strides with the Center and computer music in the future.
"We're excited about the Digital Arts Center and working with art and computers," Shatin said. "We also hope to work with computer engineering and science departments to expand our program."
"The music department should definitely look toward developing computer music within the major more," Watkins said.
In celebration of this up-and-coming phenomenon, the McIntire Music Department hosted a music show Nov. 9 called Technosonics.
Technosonics was a music show put together with computer music videos, live performances and interactive music. The performance featured computer musician David Topper and faculty members Matthew Burtener and Shatin.
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