Rock was built on four foundations – guitars, bass, drums and vocals. A new era has made way for a new addition to the mix, however – the computer.

Christopher Hopkins, assistant professor of music, is promoting a music technology curriculum through an iMovie/GarageBand contest.

The contest allows students to showcase their musical or theatrical talent, while becoming familiar with newer technology. Hopkins says music is of great interest to the students.

“A lot of people have music as a very strong second interest,” Hopkins says. “They have all sorts of good ideas and very practical ideas about their profession and what that’s going to be in life, but they have a secret love at night to make music, and they listen to it a tremendous amount.

“They want to try their hand at music if they’re a real garage band.”

Seth Hoveland, senior in liberal studies, helped in the creation of the contest.

As an Apple representative, Hoveland saw this contest as a good opportunity to bring some awareness to the company and the technology. He says the contest is in part to reward ISU students.

“It lets [students] win prizes for being creative,” Hoveland says.

“It rewards them for doing stuff while still in school.”

Hoveland says this contest is also a good opportunity for bands at the university to gain some exposure to the students.

There are plans for a show featuring the winning entries of the contest at the recital hall, where there is a large projection screen and surround sound.

Apple Computer representatives have agreed to supply some prizes to winners. Some of the prizes include small cash prizes, iPods and iTunes gift certificates.

Students who do not have the means to the technology needed have been taken into consideration by the music department. Students can use the new computer lab in Music Hall to work on their entries.

An optional open house will take on Dec. 6 in Room 056 of Music Hall, where the Macintosh Users Group will demonstrate how to use the technology.

In order to participate in this contest, students must pre-register by Dec. 16, so organizers can get an idea of how many will be entering. This can be done online at the department of music homepage.

All submissions must be turned in by Feb. 1. Contest winners will be notified on Feb. 17. These winners will take part in the show Feb. 27.

Hopkins says he hopes to see his music technology curriculum benefit from this contest.

Although the contest helps students become familiar with some music technology equipment, Hopkins teaches much more advanced technology. He says music technology is becoming more important in our society today.

“I think that computer music is taking the role that the home piano used to have in the 19th century and early 20th century,” Hopkins says.

“There’s a kind of amateur music making at home for your own enjoyment. It used to be centered around a piano in a Victorian drawing room. Now, people do it on their computer along with everything else you do.

“One reason to highlight the GarageBand and iMovie applications is they’re very inexpensive and come with computers ready to go, and their interface is designed to have a very easy point of entry. You can accomplish a lot of things.”

Creativity and style are major qualities that will be a factor in the judging process, Hopkins says.

The piece can express student life, observations of the world or an abstract artistic quality.

Hoveland says hopes are high for a good turnout.

“There’s an incentive there,” Hoveland says. “A lot of people do this as just a hobby and mess around with that kind of thing. One of them making a recording of them playing the guitar or what have you.

“This is a way to be rewarded for doing such things and turn it from being a hobby into something that is more useful to them.”