Scott Smallwood, BA (Seattle Pacific), MMus (Miami University), MMus (Peabody Conservatory), PhD (Princeton)
Pronouns: he, him, his
Contact
Professor, Faculty of Arts - Music Dept
- ssmallwo@ualberta.ca
- Address
-
3-53 Fine Arts Building
8807 - 112 St NWEdmonton ABT6G 2C9
Director, Faculty of Arts - Sound Studies Institute
- ssmallwo@ualberta.ca
- Address
-
3-47 Arts Building (Main & Conv Hall)
113 St and 91 AveEdmonton ABT6G 2E6
- Availability
- By appointment.
Overview
Area of Study / Keywords
music composition improvisation electroacoustic music sound art audio gaming
About
Scott Smallwood is a sound artist, composer, and sound performer who creates works inspired by discovered textures and forms, through a practice of listening, field recording, and sonic improvisation. He designs experimental electronic instruments and software, as well as sound installations and site-specific performance scenarios. Important to his process is exploring the subtleties of sonic texture through gradual transformations of timbre, particularly with sounds that may have originated from specific recordings of objects or spaces. His compositional and improvisational work makes use of space explicitly, and often involves multiple channel environments, found sounds, and non-conventional instrumentation. He works in a variety of sound and music genres, including instrumental concert and chamber music, electroacoustic music, sound art and installation, improvisatory performance, and more recently, audio game development. His work has been presented worldwide, including recent presentations at SARC in Belfast, the Issue Project Room in NYC, the Burning Man Festival in Black Rock City, Nevada, the The Hong Kong Arts Centre, and Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah, NY. His recorded work has been released on Autumn Records, Deep Listening, Wowcool, Simple Logic, Static Caravan, and Dead Definition Records.
In addition to his artistic work and research, Smallwood has been an educator in music composition and technology in the US and Canada for over 25 years. He holds music degrees from Seattle Pacific University, Miami University, Peabody Conservatory, and Princeton University, where he also held postdoctoral research associate position, working with the legendary Princeton Laptop Orchestra (PLOrk). From 1997 until 2003, he worked as a studio engineer, faculty member, and technical director in the electronic arts program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he developed a continuing interest in collaboration with artists in other media. He is currently the Director of the Sound Studies Institute at the University of Alberta, where he serves as a Professor of music composition and technology.
Websites
Artist Website (scott-smallwood.com)
Research
Areas of Research & Interest:
Sound Art / Installation
Field Recording
Acoustic Ecology
Phonography
Solarsonics
Interactive Technologies & Games
Teaching
Areas of Instruction:
Composition
Music Technology
Improvisation
Electroacoustic Music
Sound Art
Acoustic Ecology
Ensemble Instruction:
Courses
ART 451 - Media Art: Extended Studio II
Intermediate individual study in Intermedia/Media Art practices that include digital media, installation, performance, video, and other media-based practices. Prerequisites: ART 350 or 351 and consent of department.
ART 538 - Special Projects in Studio Disciplines: Advanced
Normally offered in Spring/Summer. Prerequisite: consent of Department.
ART 551 - Media Art: Advanced Studies II
Advanced individual study in Intermedia/Media Art practices that include digital media, installation, performance, video, and other media-based practices. Prerequisites: ART 550 and consent of department.
MUSIC 645 - Topics in Applied Music Technologies
Prerequisites: MUSIC 445 or equivalent, or consent of Department.