J-Term course on Sound and Sustainability MUSI 3500

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Matthew Burtner is teaching a new Music intensive class called "Sound and Sustainability” for 8 days during the winter break. Enrollment is now open for MUSI 3559 during J-Term, and I’ll be offering it both in person and on zoom simultaneously for students who won’t be on Grounds over the winter break. 

The class is cross listed with Environmental Thought and Practice (ETP), and it meets requirements in that program and the Composition requirement in Music.

Matthew Burtner 
Dates: 01/02/2026 - 01/10/2026
Meets: MoTuWeThFrSa   9:00AM - 2:30PM
Online Synchronous (in person, or on-line)
Course Number: 10140

For in-person participants, the class will meet in the VCCM Lab, and in the Contemplative Sciences Center's Conservatory room (which is super amazing if you haven’t seen it!). We will also be going outside on field excursions to record sounds and explore sustainability projects using sound. Those on zoom will need to check out a field recording kit before leaving town for break. 

Description:
Students will learn how emerging creative approaches to sound are advancing research in health and personal wellbeing, environmental conservation, energy production, social stability, aesthetics, and engineering technologies. Students will learn tools and methods needed to bring sound into their own research projects and creative artworks. Each student will receive a field recording kit and will make sound recordings that will be played on an immersive audio system. 

If you’ve taken MUSI 3400 Ecoacoustics already (or are planning to take it in the spring), this class is totally different, as it explores music and sound beyond the environmental.