Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - CA 145 D100

Creative Sound Studio I (3)

Class Number: 6193

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    GOLDCORP

  • Corequisites:

    CA 143.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the methods of creative composition in diverse contexts. A hands-on sound and music-making experience through the exploration of digital audio workstations, composing for performance featuring objects and DIY instruments, approaches to music annotation/scoring/scripting, as well as exposure to new work and artists via in-depth analysis and discussion. Students will be required to attend a weekly area-wide seminar where the practice of composition will be discussed. As CA 145 is a limited capacity studio course, first seats are reserved for accepted Music and Sound Majors but additional seats are available. If you are not a Music and Sound Major, but wish to take this course with the intention of considering the Major, please contact the SCA Undergraduate Academic Advisor at sca_adv@sfu.ca.

COURSE DETAILS:

This is a hands-on music-making class that explores composing with DIY or extended instruments, digital audio workstations, regular instruments, amplified objects, field recordings, and DIY electronics, among others.

This is an intensive course for those wanting to dive deeply into new ways of making and imagining music and sound, and to drive those discoveries through a generous dose of curiosity. It’s a class that makes real space for taking new risks, channeling unique visions, and cultivating supportive community. 

Playing an active role in supporting one another’s works in progress, you will develop you own unique modes of creative expression, and be encouraged to evolve your tools, approaches to process, and scope of creative possibilities. 

Exposure to new work and artists is incorporated throughout via listening journals, aural analysis, and in-depth discussion.

All students are required to attend the weekly class as well as the weekly seminar and the term-end Music + Sound Festival (3-day event).

Grading

  • Active participation (Weekly class + Seminar + Music & Sound Festival) 18%
  • Submitted questions for Guest Artists 10%
  • Listening Journal + Analyses (6 total) 18%
  • In-Class Presentation 10%
  • Creative Project A (parts 1a+1b) 12%
  • Creative Project A (parts 2a+2b) 10%
  • Creative Project B (parts 1a+1b) 12%
  • Creative Project B (parts 2a+2b) 10%

NOTES:

GRADING OF CREATIVE PROJECTS

- Attention to detail (both creative AND practical)

- Creative growth over the course of the term

- Not defaulting to familiar moves at every turn

- Challenging yourself to genuinely develop your own evolving creative moves

 

IMPORTANT: This never means stepping out of something that’s rooted in your own voice. 

It means flexing and expanding the play-space of that voice through trying out new things + digging into deeper resolution to give that voice more dimension on its own terms. 

CLASS PARTICIPATION

- Being well prepared for all in-class workshops and discussions

- Working productively throughout in-class workshop sessions

- Engaging thoughtfully + supportively with others’ work in feedback + collaborative contexts

- Arriving to class on time unless communicating an excuse

Materials

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.