9
Small studio houses colossal sound
by Mario Talkington Kansan staff writer
From the upper floor of Murphy Hall, the sound of a pianist practicing a rapid succession of minor scales drifts downstairs, faintly audible in most parts of the building — except in the electronic music studio where the sound underling sirens and screaming police sirens wail from the room.
"These synthesizers are capable of all kinds of new sounds —sounds that are unimaginable," said Edward Mattila, professor of music theory and director of the studio.
The cramped studio, nestled behind two locked doors in a corner of Murphy's ground floor, houses an array of computers, wires, digital processors and blinking synthesizers.
"It (the studio) isn't just a little kid's toy," Mattila said. "You go to Wal-Mart and see these toys, but they are consumer things, not synthesize-
Mattila said the University opened the studio in 1972 with about a $20,000 investment. He urged the school to open an electronic music studio after he took a sabbatical and saw the impact of an electronic technology at other colleges.
other colleges.
"They're everywhere. Even elementary schools have synthesizers now," Mattila said. "You
couldn't even play the 'Wheel of Fortune' without a computer. They (the students) have to know how to run them."
Andrea Steennett, an Aransas Pass, Texas, graduate student takes Mattila's class, said that even though her doctorate would be in piano performance, educating herself about electronic music would be useful.
"In this day, you would be a little bit like an ostrich if you ignore it," she said. "Studio musicians are using synthesizers a lot more. I don't know where I'll be next year, so it doesn't hurt to learn."
hurt to learn it.
In order to use the studio, which seats about 10 people comfortably, students must be music majors and have taken Electronic Music I, which Mattila teaches.
During the class, students gather around Mattila in the studio, listening to the sounds produced by both sound and state-of-the-art pieces of equipment.
Mattila demonstrates the equipment, using words like "oscillator," "noise generator," and "waveform" to explain the principles of electronic music. Mattila said that even though technology had advanced rapidly since the studio opened, those principles still applied.
pat soft appliance
Matilla said students seemed to have an easier time learning on the older analog synthesizers — covered
"With digital equipment, you can see what you're doing, in a sense," he
with knobs, lights and dials — than or today's sleek, digital synthesizer
said. "With analog equipment, they can see the knobs to tune the pitch of an oscillator (part of the synthesizer).
Computer technology simplifies composing
by Mario Talkington
Kansan staff writer
Ten years ago, a songwriter who wanted to record his orchestral composition would have had to write out and copy the entire score, hire dozens of musicians and rehearse the piece for days.
"With it (today's technology), you can literally do the whole band yourself," said John Flynn, manager of Mass Steel Theater. "The technology has changed the process of making music. The sky's the limit."
and rehearse this today. Today, he can do the entire job in his basement. By himself.
Today's musician can use computers to create his own sounds, recreate the sound of an acoustic instrument or record entire songs without ever touching an instrument, Flynn said.
Edward Mattila, professor of music theory and director of KU's electronic music studio, said that MIDI, a computer code developed by the University, is also responsible for much of the new creative possibilities for musicians.
"People who possibly suffer from arthritis can play music now," he said.
MIDI (musical instrument digital interface), is a type of digital computer message that allows instruments to "speak" to each other, he said. Using instruments equipped with MIDI, a musician can play drums from a keyboard, keyboards from a drum set, or control both instruments from a computer.
"MIDI has just revolutionized the whole field of music," Mattila said.
We all get the blues, psychologist says
cy Kathy Walsh
Kansan staff writer
Depression is something that everybody experiences.
cries
That was the message of Dick Nelson, counselor psychologist at the University Counseling Center, at the "Women and the Blues" workshop last night sponsored by the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center.
Resource Center Nelson began the workshop, which focused on situational depression, by saying that all behavior had a purpose.
Nelson said that one's environment plus interaction with others equaled one's self concept.
"People behave according to how they feel about themselves," Nelson said. "If you feel good about things, your behavior will reflect that, just as your behavior will reflect if you've been down."
If people are unhappy in their environment or are not interacting with others in a positive way, this could lead to a low self-concept that could lead
Depression is a normal part of living. It becomes abnormal when it interferes with our ability to function.'
Dick Nelson
psychologist, University Counseling Center
to depression, Nelson said.
Once a person develops a self-concept, he said,
everything filters through it.
"We create our own depression by what runs through our mind." Nelson said.
through our minds.
He said he thought that it took 10 positive statements to counteract one negative statement.
"Depression is a normal part of living," he said.
"It becomes abnormal when it interferes with our ability to live."
Birth control pills and other medication also can cause depression, Nelson said. And, more commonly in women, depression can be a result of hormonal imbalance.
Universitv Daily Kansan / Friday, February 3, 1989
Depression becomes negative when it persists, he said, adding that some people strive on stress.
Depression and stress are not always negative. Nelson said.
Nelson said that early symptoms of stress and depression were fatigue, headaches, stomach problems, insomnia, paranoia and changes in eating and drinking habits.
Nelson said that he thought that depression was the opposite of expression and gave several steps that could prevent a person from becoming depressed.
expressed.
Don't make negative comments, he said.
Feelings come from what we think. People can't control their thoughts, he said, but they can control their feelings.
nelson said that diet, exercise and the proper amount of sleep were other ways of dealing with depression.
For more information, call Dan Hrenchir Kirk Knoll (913) 841-9414 (913) 749-1749
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