Live-Coding Music with TidalCycles

Live-coding is a medium to create music and visuals live, allowing for algorithmic exploration and performance. The workshop will focus on TidalCycles, which is a free and open-source tool that is ubiquitous in the live-coding scene, and often seen at algorave performances. The workshop will give attendees the skills to explore musical ideas with code, an introduction to the landscape of live-coding, and steps to combine TidalCycles with traditional music production tools.

Course Logistics

Dates:
Thursday, March 10, 2022

Times:
2:30-5:30pm

Cost:
$80 for a 3h workshop
We also offer Diversity Scholarships. Apply here.

Experience Level:
This workshop will be geared to serve a range of student experience levels. We will assume zero-knowledge, but it is always helpful to have music theory, music production and/or computer programming knowledge.

Requirements:
Learners are asked to bring their own laptops as well as a pair of headphones (wired, if possible). We will have a very limited supply of laptops for learners who are unable to have TidalCycles installed and running on their machines.

Workshop Outline

Introductions
A brief history of live-coding & algoraves
Learning TidalCycles pattern language
Creating algorithmic rhythms
Sample manipulation with code
Exploring melodies
Performance tips-and-tricks
Share-out / performances!

Educational and Experiential Goals

Learners will have the ability to explore musical ideas using code (TidalCycles)
Learners will understand the landscape of live-coding and the communities around creating art with code
Learners will be given next-steps to continue learning and ways to be involved with the communities
Learners will feel empowered to explore musical curiosities with code
Learners will be able to share their creations with each other and the instructors in the course

Instructor(s)

Dan Gorelick

Dan Gorelick is an SF and Brooklyn-based creative technologist and artist. He graduated from Boston University with a Bachelors of Science in Computer Engineering and is a lifelong musician exploring the sounds of cello, synthesizers and more. He uses his knowledge of software, hardware, design and music to create projects in the interactive media space. Dan has worked on creative technology projects with clients such as National Geographic, Intel, Berklee College of Music. He has performed or spoken at SXSW, Github Universe Conference, Twilio Signal Conference, Gray Area and others. Dan has taught workshops for creative coding at the SF Conservatory of Music, Babycastles, and Pratt Institute. Dan is also an organizer of the live-coding artist collectives AVClubSF and livecodeNYC.

Kit Christopher

Kit Christopher is a live coder living in Dallas TX. He is a lifelong fan of music, an avid cyclist, and a friend to all cats. Look for a collection of his new music in 2022.

R Tyler

R Tyler is a San Francisco-based algorave musician, producer, and visual artist. In 2023 he was invited to perform algorithmic dance music at SXSW, Spectra Studio Los Angeles, Indexical Santa Cruz, and bi-coastal audiovisual events with AV Club SF, Club Code, and Livecode.NYC. His EP ‘Xuixo’ was released on Split Notes this year under his alias ‘Relyt R’ for experimental techno made with live-coding, machine learning, odd time signatures, and alien microtonal harmonies. As R Tyler, he has released Live-Code Volume 1 and 2, featuring original dance music composed and performed with TidalCycles code from his live sets at SXSW and Gray Area SF.