MUSIC 275Music and Technology
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
- Subject
- Music
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 6 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
A hands-on introduction to music and technology, including recording, audio editing, digital signal processing, and Musical Instrumental Digital Interface (MIDI). Course work will foster a practical understanding of digital music production software and techniques, and involve electroacoustic or acoustic composition.
Prerequisites
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4459 | 31 / 30 | T 16:00–18:50 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4329 | 0 / 30 | T 16:00–18:50 |
| LEC 701 | 1738 | 9 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
95% liked it71% easy93% useful
From 21 ratings and 8 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
so fun u get creative liberties and it forces u to learn to use the software, though i wish we got to learn more technical skills in ableton
Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Loved this course! If you're interested in music production at all, you'll have a great time. Assignments are very open ended and you are encouraged to experiment and have fun.
We mainly used Ableton Live for software. You also get access to the music lab if you're taking this course. I would highly recommend if you're looking for a fun course to take!Nov 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
This course changed my view of apprehending music. The pain of creativity definitely exists but try different styles! Cam is open-minded so be random and chaotic in your music
May 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
A very fun course through the methods for producing music using Albeton Live. The grading is a bit arbitrary as no matter how much effort I put in I can never get >90% (always at 85% ish), so I just gave up lolll but overall you are guaranteed to get >=85% and it was fun
Dec 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
I honestly don't see a reason why you shouldn't take this course. It's easy and it's fun. lectures are not even necessary to go to, but they're fun to go to either way. You get access to cool music lab stuff and you get to create your own music, prof will be open to any type of music you create so go wild and have fun. I would highly highly highly recommend taking this as an elective, it won't take you more than 1-2 hours of work per week, and as long as you make sure to incorporate the concepts he teaches in the class in your labs/your midterm you've got a guaranteed low-mid 90's mark. BUT, if you don't have any interest in music production then definitely don't take this course. but…
Dec 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
22 posts and comments in 20 threads mention MUSIC 275, June 2013 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2024
Easy course where I'll genuinely learn something - Winter 2025 17 points, 17 comments
“Hi, I'll be in 4B ECE and I've mapped out all my degree req's. I have one empty course slot. Anything you'd recommend? I want to be amazed, or learn something I didn't think of. …”
u/SyIphrena: “MUSIC 275 if you have any interest in music production, there's a prereq but it's easy to get it waived if you just email”
Spring 2023
Music Courses 1 point, 1 comment
u/EmotionalYesterday39: “… I'm interested in music production, and I saw 2 related courses, MUSIC275 and DAC203/ENGL304, if anyone has already taken these courses, could you share your experiences, such as what do you do in this course, is it hard? …”
Fall 2022
MUSIC 275 DAW requirements (any music 275 students pls I need ur input) 8 points, 5 comments
u/BananaSS99: “So I'm heavily considering doing MUSIC 275 next semester. I'm pretty decent in FL and am almost always composing and I know that they mainly use Ableton and sometimes Logic. …”
u/PrinceAdebayo: “You can use any DAW you want outside of the the first and third assignments. For context, this semester there are 6 assignments, a midterm project, an essay, a collaborative project, and a final …”
u/BananaSS99: “Oh also one more thing if you don't mind, I haven't taken MUSIC 100 or 110 which I believe is a prereq for MUSIC 275 but like... do I really need it? If I have a portfolio of compositions, can I just show it to them and ask them to let me in?”
How is MUSIC 275 if you don't have experience with Ableton? 1 point, 1 comment
u/1100H19: “I've always wanted to produce some music so it seems like a cool course. I haven't used any music software before.”
Is DAC 203 any fun? 1 point, 1 comment
u/somewhat_fragile: “… MUSIC 275 looks interesting, but I don’t have any Fall terms left in my co-op sequence. I can’t find any reviews of DAC 203 or any of the instructors so I would love any information about it, preferably a course outline. …”
Spring 2022
How to Graduate from the University of Waterloo's Computer Science Program with the Least Amount of Effort 1,487 points, 156 comments
u/ConradIsMyDaddy: “… for example, i took MUSIC 275, a course on producing music in Ableton. if you've had no experience with music production or the Ableton software, learning how to put together an arrangement might be a lot more difficult for you than memorizing some facts on your favourite rocks. …”
MUSIC 275 6 points, 3 comments
u/Wonderful_Fennel_756: “Thinking about taking this as id love to improve my music production. Anyone take this course? how was it? And how much is the studio fee?”
Winter 2022
Anyone into making music? 12 points, 15 comments
“Is there anyone living on/near campus with an interest in making songs/producing music? I've been getting into it for a while and have been wanting to meet other people who are also into that.”
u/edm-in-uw: “If you're interesting in taking a music production-related course at UW, check out MUSIC275 (highly recommend, especially since there aren't rly any other courses that closely related to producing here) Edit: you would basically have the opportunity to meet an entire class worth …”
EDM Music Production in UW? 13 points, 11 comments
“Anyone here into music production, especially EDM? Are there any EDM or music production-related clubs/activities/events here? I've heard about UWDJ club but not sure if they're running this term.”
u/w-_x: “There is a class, MUSIC 275: Music and Technology, which is basically just a class about using DAWs. I have not taken it though so can't really comment.”
Fall 2021
What are your favourite classes at UW 56 points, 87 comments
u/ImLiterallyDepressed: “MUSIC 275”
Spring 2020
Anyone taken ENGL 304 (designing with digital sound)? 3 points, 3 comments
“What do you learn in this course?”
u/StellarLuma: “Currently in DAC203/ENGL304, we’ve been learning about how to listen, understanding sound (a bit of physics), tools used when working with sound, sound design, sound and meaning, & the different …”
u/StellarLuma: “… If you’re looking for a music production type course, I’d suggest MUSIC275(:”
Spring 2019
Your favourite electives that are offered Fall 2019 5 points, 9 comments
“Looking to fill a course slot! What were your favourite electives that are offered this fall? Prereq wise, I've taken PSYCH 101, so any other subject area would need to be a no-prereq elective.”
u/Uwquatt: “MUSIC 275”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them