Alumni Magazine - Spring 2008 - (Page 47) The Sound of New Music From instruments to software, students in Georgia Tech’s Music Technology Group are designing a rhythmic revolution By Leslie Overman Photography: Gary Meek When Frank Clark (at left) arrived at Georgia Tech in 2002 to serve as the music department’s new director, he found a building — and a program — in need of a makeover. Surrounded by residence halls on the west side of campus, the J. Allen Couch Building was built in 1929 and served as an elementary school before housing the Institute’s music program. Since Clark’s arrival, Couch has undergone a renovation, as has music at Georgia Tech. What once served as merely a creative outlet for students has evolved into a program that combines both their technical expertise and their passion for music in an effort to prepare them for some of the top technical positions in the music industry. In 2006, Georgia Tech’s master’s degree in music technology was approved by the Board of Regents. The first degree will be awarded this spring. t 12, Mark Godfrey started playing music. He now plays the guitar and piano and sings. He’s been in several bands of the “weird rock variety” over the years, he says, and is currently a member of two. He also produces music out of a home studio. In May, Godfrey, EE 05, MS ECE 06, will receive the first master’s degree in music technology from Georgia Tech. “I learned a good deal of digital signal processing and pattern recognition in ECE and was always looking for ways to combine them with my passion and love for music,” Godfrey says. It was after he enrolled in classes taught by music professor Gil Weinberg >>> A Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine • Spring 2008 47
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