A talk in the key of CA talk in the key of C

Jon Dron <jon.dron@brighton.ac.uk>Jon Dron <jon.dron@brighton.ac.uk>University of BrightonUniversity of Brighton

55thth May 2005 May 2005Oxford BrookesOxford Brookes

if if (areYouSittingComfortably?) (areYouSittingComfortably?)

{{

then I’ll begin…then I’ll begin…

DistinctivenessDistinctiveness

problem solvingproblem solvingprecision (it works or it doesn’t)precision (it works or it doesn’t)process/productprocess/productheuristic/algorithmicheuristic/algorithmicmulti-disciplinarymulti-disciplinarycreative/logicalcreative/logicalperhaps not all one discipline?perhaps not all one discipline?perhaps not a discipline at all?perhaps not a discipline at all?

What sort of subject is What sort of subject is programming?programming?

science?science? engineering?engineering? design?design? composition?composition? mathematics/logic?mathematics/logic? all the above?all the above? none of the above?none of the above? all of the above but all of the above but

greater than the sum greater than the sum of the parts?of the parts?

something else?something else?

disciplinesdisciplines

science, engineering, mathematics, science, engineering, mathematics, logic etc may help to define the rules logic etc may help to define the rules of the gameof the game

but not how it should be playedbut not how it should be played

Teaching programming/teaching Teaching programming/teaching musicmusic

Facts, theories and Facts, theories and arcane formal arcane formal notationsnotations

sequence selection sequence selection and iterationand iteration

mathematical mathematical underpinningsunderpinnings

interoperability issuesinteroperability issues practical but practical but

constrained skillsconstrained skills creativitycreativity technical virtuositytechnical virtuosity

Is there an equivalent of…Is there an equivalent of…

scales and scales and arpeggios?arpeggios?

jazz/rock/blues?jazz/rock/blues? conducting an conducting an

orchestra?orchestra? listening/musical listening/musical

appreciation?appreciation? performance?performance? composition?composition? repertoire?repertoire?

CompositionComposition

keyboard skillskeyboard skills

Listening skillsListening skills

PerformancePerformance

genresgenresrepertoirerepertoirestylestyle

Some other analogiesSome other analogies

Don’t like the music idea?Don’t like the music idea?

Here are some other Here are some other thoughts…thoughts…

Architecture/ Art & DesignArchitecture/ Art & Design

Creative writing/dramaCreative writing/drama

Words we might (but seldom do) Words we might (but seldom do) use…use…

seminarseminar studiostudio discussiondiscussion critcrit practicepractice reading as a writerreading as a writer portfolioportfolio mentoringmentoring

aestheticsaesthetics creativitycreativity imaginationimagination critical theorycritical theory performanceperformance virtuosityvirtuosity discovering a voicediscovering a voice passionpassion

Some courses we might teach Some courses we might teach (some of us do?)(some of us do?)

programming as a way of beingprogramming as a way of beingprogram appreciationprogram appreciationcreative programmingcreative programmingprogramming as performanceprogramming as performanceprogramming studioprogramming studio

}}

Jon Dron <Jon Dron <jon.dron@brighton.ac.ukjon.dron@brighton.ac.uk> >

http://www.cmis.brighton.ac.uk/staff/jhttp://www.cmis.brighton.ac.uk/staff/jd29/d29/