A talk in the key of C

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A talk in the key of C

• Jon Dron ltjon.dron_at_brighton.ac.ukgt
• University of Brighton
• 5th May 2005
• Oxford Brookes

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if (areYouSittingComfortably?)

• then Ill begin

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Distinctiveness

• problem solving
• precision (it works or it doesnt)
• process/product
• heuristic/algorithmic
• multi-disciplinary
• creative/logical
• perhaps not all one discipline?
• perhaps not a discipline at all?

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What sort of subject is programming?

• science?
• engineering?
• design?
• composition?
• mathematics/logic?
• all the above?
• none of the above?
• all of the above but greater than the sum of the
  parts?
• something else?

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disciplines

• science, engineering, mathematics, logic etc may
  help to define the rules of the game
• but not how it should be played

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Teaching programming/teaching music

• Facts, theories and arcane formal notations
• sequence selection and iteration
• mathematical underpinnings
• interoperability issues
• practical but constrained skills
• creativity
• technical virtuosity

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Is there an equivalent of

• scales and arpeggios?
• jazz/rock/blues?
• conducting an orchestra?
• listening/musical appreciation?
• performance?
• composition?
• repertoire?

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Composition
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keyboard skills
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Listening skills
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Performance

• genres
• repertoire
• style

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Some other analogies

• Dont like the music idea?
• Here are some other thoughts

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Architecture/ Art Design
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Creative writing/drama
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Words we might (but seldom do) use

• seminar
• studio
• discussion
• crit
• practice
• reading as a writer
• portfolio
• mentoring

• aesthetics
• creativity
• imagination
• critical theory
• performance
• virtuosity
• discovering a voice
• passion

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

• programming as a way of being
• program appreciation
• creative programming
• programming as performance
• programming studio

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• Jon Dron ltjon.dron_at_brighton.ac.ukgt
• http//www.cmis.brighton.ac.uk/staff/jd29/