Introduction to Digital Music with Python Programming: Learning Music with Code

by Michael S. Horn, Melanie West, Cameron Roberts

Overview

Introduction to Digital Music with Python Programming provides a foundation in music and code for the beginner. It shows how coding empowers new forms of creative expression while simplifying and automating many of the tedious aspects of production and composition.

With the help of online, interactive examples, this book covers the fundamentals of rhythm, chord structure, and melodic composition alongside the basics of digital production. Each new concept is anchored in a real-world musical example that will have you making beats in a matter of minutes.

Music is also a great way to learn core programming concepts such as loops, variables, lists, and functions, Introduction to Digital Music with Python Programming is designed for beginners of all backgrounds, including high school students, undergraduates, and aspiring professionals, and requires no previous experience with music or code.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367470821
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/23/2022
Pages:	278
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Michael S. Horn is Associate Professor of Computer Science and Learning Sciences at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he directs the Tangible Interaction Design and Learning (TIDAL) Lab.

Melanie West is a PhD student in Learning Sciences at Northwestern University and co-founder of Tiz Media Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering underrepresented youth through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs.

Cameron Roberts is a software developer and musician living in Chicago. He holds degrees from Northwestern University in Music Performance and Computer Science.

Table of Contents

List of figures ix

Photo and illustration credits xiii

Foreword xiv

Acknowledgments xvi

1 Why music and coding? 1

Interlude 1 Basic pop beat 12

2 Rhythm and tempo 18

Interlude 2 Custom trap beat 49

3 Pitch, harmony, and dissonance 53

Interlude 3 Melodies and lists 68

4 Chords 71

Interlude 4 Playing chords 84

5 Scales, keys, and melody 88

Interlude 5 Lean on me 100

6 Diaconic chords and chord progressions 103

Interlude 6 Random chord progressions 114

7 Frequency, fourier, and filters 117

Interlude 7 Creative effects 136

8 Note-based production effects 140

Interlude 8 How to make a drum fill 153

9 Song composition and EarSketch 158

Interlude 9 How to make a snare drum riser 172

10 Modular synthesis 177

Interlude 10 Drum machine function 191

11 History of music and computing 194

Appendix A Python reference 207

Appendix B TunePad programming reference 231

Appendix C Music reference 240

Index 255