An interdisciplinary approach in applying fundamental concepts

Software applications and music compositions share a similar development process. This paper summarizes the results of a joint effort between faculty in the Department of Information Sciences and Technology and the Department of Music to develop an innovative and interdisciplinary course for non-majors that incorporates music composition, programming, and animation. Active learning exercises using Alice, Flash and Sibelius provide students with an opportunity to express their creativity and enhance fundamental concepts in both disciplines. In addition to the development lifecycles, students learn fundamental programming concepts (variables, control structures, methods and event-handling), animation principles (design, layout, specialized effects, actions, and sounds) and music theory (scales, intervals, chords, scores and digital playback). Our goal is to create a learning environment where students are excited about using technology to create musical animations. We are in the process of having this course approved as a General Education course to recruit non-majors into our program.