jwrc5
Dec 23, 2009
Undergraduate / Stanford Supplement Suggestions: Describe something intellecutally stimulating [6]
Prompt: Describe Something that you find to be intellecutally stimulating.
Electronic and synthesized music has always struck me as intellectually fascinating. Since I was young, I have always loved the industrial sounds of Nine Inch Nails or the danceable melodies of Daft Punk. Although I have always loved this new age music, I always find it disheartening how many people dislike electronic music. Most people claim that such music requires no intellect to create. On the contrary! Electronic, synthesized music is astoundingly mathematical and intellectual. When playing a piano, a hammer strikes a chord, which oscillates, and produces a fixed and brief sound. On a synthesizer, however, the oscillation, or vibration is variable in pitch and length.
Sound waves are then propelled through the air, taking the form of sinusoidal waves with peaks at both high and low pitches. On a piano, the pitch of a note is definite. Whereas, playing a synthesizer, the pitch of a note is controllable as the frequency and peaks of the wave can be manipulated. In other words, with each note, there are an infinite number of pitches to be expressed. Electronic artists, therefore, can explore a universe of sounds within each unique synthesizer. These artists are then able to find pitches along sine graphs and then build chords, modulate to a new movement, or simply create beauty or chaos. Synthesizers and electronic music are so fascinating, because musicians can use math to divine sounds and to create new music that no one has before dreamed.
My father says the essay is "opaque." And therefore bad. Hoping to get some idea if this is what Stanford is looking for. I also am hoping to inject more powerful language. Nonetheless, all comments are welcomed and appreciated. Thanks.
Prompt: Describe Something that you find to be intellecutally stimulating.
Electronic and synthesized music has always struck me as intellectually fascinating. Since I was young, I have always loved the industrial sounds of Nine Inch Nails or the danceable melodies of Daft Punk. Although I have always loved this new age music, I always find it disheartening how many people dislike electronic music. Most people claim that such music requires no intellect to create. On the contrary! Electronic, synthesized music is astoundingly mathematical and intellectual. When playing a piano, a hammer strikes a chord, which oscillates, and produces a fixed and brief sound. On a synthesizer, however, the oscillation, or vibration is variable in pitch and length.
Sound waves are then propelled through the air, taking the form of sinusoidal waves with peaks at both high and low pitches. On a piano, the pitch of a note is definite. Whereas, playing a synthesizer, the pitch of a note is controllable as the frequency and peaks of the wave can be manipulated. In other words, with each note, there are an infinite number of pitches to be expressed. Electronic artists, therefore, can explore a universe of sounds within each unique synthesizer. These artists are then able to find pitches along sine graphs and then build chords, modulate to a new movement, or simply create beauty or chaos. Synthesizers and electronic music are so fascinating, because musicians can use math to divine sounds and to create new music that no one has before dreamed.
My father says the essay is "opaque." And therefore bad. Hoping to get some idea if this is what Stanford is looking for. I also am hoping to inject more powerful language. Nonetheless, all comments are welcomed and appreciated. Thanks.
