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CSC 575: Music Retrieval Techniques
Term Fall 2011
Course Website http://www.csc.uvic.ca/courses/csc575
Instructor George Tzanetakis
Email: gtzan at cs.uvic.ca
Office: ECS 606
Phone Number: (250)472-5711
Office Hours: MWR 13:30-14:30
Lecture Schedule 
(A01)   MWR     14:30 - 15:30     ELL 061
Textbooks Notes provided by the instructor, on-line publications, and other material.
Course Objectives And Learning Outcomes This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the emerging research area of Music Information Retrieval (MIR). The course will explore how techniques from Signal Processing, Machine Learning, Information Retrieval, Human-Computer Interaction and Software Engineering are applied in the design and development of MIR algorithms and systems. The course will be project-oriented and will require initiative and willingness to explore a variety of different topics. Topics covered will include those listed below. At the end of the course students should be able:

  1. Critically read, understand and implement algorithms and systems described in research publications at the Int. Conf. of the Society for Music Information Retrieval (ISMIR) and other peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
  2. Have a basic applied understanding of audio signal processing, time-frequency analysis and audio feature extraction
  3. Have a basic applied understanding of data mining and machine learning
  4. Understand the wide diversity of evaluation metrics and methodologies required to develop effective music information retrieval software systems.
  5. Be able to integrate interdisciplinary knowledge in the process of developing a non-trivial potentially collaborative project.
Topics
  • Introduction to MIR
  • Audio Feature extraction based on the Short Time Fourier Transform
  • Machine Learning
  • Content-based audio searching
  • MPEG audio compression
  • Automatic beat detection
  • MIDI and symbolic MIR
  • Structural analysis of music
  • Audio programming
  • Content and Context aware interfaces for music and audio
  • HCI and Software Engineering
Assignments There will be 4 assignments completed individually. The assignments will be worth 40% of the final grade. The assignments will involve reading and understanding research papers and will be done individually.

Note: Each assignment will contain extra additional questions that are targeted specifically to the students taking the graduate version of the course (CSC 575).
Assignment Schedule
Assignment Weight Assigned Date Due Date
1 10% 2 week 3 week
2 10% 4 week 5 week
3 10% 6 week 7 week
4 10% 8 week 9 week
Project There will be one project completed in small groups of students (generally two students per team). A list of project topics will be made available in the first month of the term. Students are expected to contribute equally to the project. A description of each student's participation will be one of the report's requirements and as such will have a bearing on the grade. The description of each student's input will need to be validated by the other members of the team and the overall project will be reviewed by other groups. Each group will have a different project.

Note: The graduate students (CSC 575) will also have to write a more thorough project report in the form of a research publication and the expectations in terms of the quality of the various components of the project will be higher.

There will be several phases to each project:

  • Requirements gathering
  • Design
  • Implementation
  • Evaluation
  • Final Report
The project will be worth 60% of the final grade. There will be a presentation for the class project.
Exams There will be no final exam in this course.
Grading
Coursework Weight (out of 100%)
Assignments 40%
Project 60%

Grades Description
A+ Exceptional work. Technically flawless and original work demonstrating insight, understanding and independent application or extension of course expectations; often publishable.
A Outstanding work. Demonstrates a very high level of integration of material demonstrating insight, understanding and independent application or extension of course expectations.
A- Excellent work. Represents a high level of integration, comprehensiveness and complexity, as well as a mastery level of relevant techniques/concepts..
B+ Very good work. Represents a satisfactory level of integration, comprehensiveness and complexity; demonstrates a sound level of analysis with no major weakness.
B Acceptable work that fulfills the expectations of the course. Represents a satisfactory level of integration of key concepts/procedures. However, comprehensiveness or technical skills may be lacking.
B-, C+, C, D Unacceptable work revealing some deficiencies in knowledge, understanding or techniques. Represents an unacceptable level of integration, comprehensiveness and complexity. Mastery of some relevant techniques or concepts lacking.
F Failing grade. Unsatisfactory performance. Wrote final examination and competed course requirements.


Final Grades are obtained by converting the numerical scores using the table below. Dividing lines between letter grades may be adjusted by a maximum of 3% to account for natural breaks in the numeric scores.

F D C C+ B- B B+ A- A A+
0-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-80 81-86 87-93 94-100
Posting Of Grades Term marks, provisional final grades and final grades will be posted by student number. NO NAME WILL APPEAR. These postings are for your information and for your validation of the data entry. If you do not wish your term marks and grades to be publicly posted in this manner, please notify the course instructor by e-mail no later than September 16, 2011.
Course Policies And Guidelines Late Assignments: No late assignments will be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor at least 48 hours before the assignment due date.
Coursework Mark Appeals: All marks must be appealed within 7 days of the mark being posted.
Attendance: We expect students attend all lectures and labs. It is entirely the students' responsibility to recover any information or announcements presented in lectures from which they were absent.
Electronic devices in labs and lectures: No unauthorized audio or video recording of lectures is permitted.
Electronic devices in midterms and exams: Calculators are only permitted for examinations and tests if explicitly authorized and the type of calculator permitted may be restricted. No other electronic devices (e.g. cell phones, pagers, PDA, etc.) may be used during examinations or tests unless explicitly authorized.
Plagiarism: Submitted work may be checked using plagiarism detection software. Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic fraud are taken very seriously by both the University and the Department. You should consult http://web.uvic.ca/calendar/FACS/UnIn/UARe/PoAcI.html for the UVic policy on academic integrity. Note that the university policy includes the statement that "A largely or fully plagiarized assignment should result in a grade of F for the course".

The Faculty of Engineering Standards for Professional Behaviour are at http://www.uvic.ca/shared/shared%5fengineering/docs/professional-behaviour.pdf

The department guidelines concerning fraud are at http://www.csc.uvic.ca/courseinfo/policies/fraud.html

Department Policies: A list of department policies regarding all courses may be found at http://www.csc.uvic.ca/courseinfo/policies/index.html

This course aims to provide equal opportunities and access for all students to enjoy the benefits and privileges of the class and its curriculum and to meet the syllabus requirements. Reasonable and appropriate accommodation will be made available to students with documented disabilities (physical, mental, learning) in order to give them the opportunity to successfully meet the essential requirements of the course. The accommodation will not alter academic standards or learning outcomes, although the student may be allowed to demonstrate knowledge and skills in a different way. It is not necessary for you to reveal your disability and/or confidential medical information to the course instructor. If you believe that you may require accommodation, the course instructor can provide you with information about confidential resources on campus that can assist you in arranging for appropriate accommodation. Alternatively, you may want to contact the Resource Centre for Students with a Disability located in the Campus Services Building.

The University of Victoria is committed to promoting, providing, and protecting a positive, and supportive and safe learning and working environment for all its members.