About
Dr. CHAU Chuck-jee 周卓之
PhD (CSE), MA (Music), MSc (CSE), BEng (CE), LRSM (Piano), ATCL (Percussion)
- PhD in Computer Science and Engineering (HKUST)
- MA in Music (HKBU)
- MSc in Computer Science and Engineering (HKUST)
- BEng in Computer Engineering (CUHK)
- LRSM in Piano Performance (ABRSM)
- ATCL Recital in Percussion (Trinity College London)
I started my post as a Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in 2018. I mainly work on fundamental service courses, as well as some introductory courses in the department. I have been away from CUHK for a dozen years for my postgraduate studies in HKUST researching in computer music, after finishing my undergraduate in CUHK Computer Engineering with a minor in Music.
With a passion in the blend of art and engineering, I created the courses AIST2010: An Introduction to Computer Music in 2019, and AIST3110: Music Information Retrieval in 2022. I also lead a few (computer) music related projects around. LinkedIn Profile Personal page
More at my technical blog on computer music research for Traditional Chinese readers: 電腦音樂研究筆記 Computer Music Research Notes
Teaching
Here are some courses that I’m involved in.
| Code | Title | Description Current offering: Term1 Term2 |
|---|---|---|
| AIST1000 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning | An introductory course for AIST major students, overviewing aspects and prospects of AI 2020T1 2021T1 |
| AIST2010 | Introduction to Computer Music | An overview on multiple disciplines in the realm of computer music, including analysis/synthesis, visualization, music programming, music information retrieval, and algorithmic music generation. A strong programming component ensure students will be able to explore further after course completion. 2019T1 2020T1 2021T1 2022T1 2023T1 2024T1 2025T1 2026T1 |
| AIST3110 | Music Information Retrieval | Music processing is an interdisciplinary research area where technology and art meets. We work on feature extraction and analysis in different time scales, including tempo and beat tracking, chord recognition, and structure analysis. 2022T2 2023T2 2024T2 2026T2 |
| CSCI2720 / ESTR2106 | Building Web Applications | Almost everything in full-stack web development, from raw HTML to the ME*N stack 2018T1 2019T2 2019S1 2020T2 2021T2 2022T1 |
| CSCI3250 | Computers and Society | Discussions, visits, and student presentations covering all non-technical corners of computer and technology 2018T2 2019T2 2020T2 2021T2 2022T2 |
| CSCI3251 | Engineering Practicum | Some fun with technical aspects for every CSE students in workshops and collaborative projects 2018T2 2019T2 2020T2 2021T2 2022T2 |
| ECLT5830 | Network and Web Programming | An advanced internet programming course for fullstack developers in master level 2021T1 2022T1 2023T1 2024T1 2025T1 |
| ENGG1000 | IT Foundation (co-teaching, deprecated) |
An introductory IT course for all non-Engineering students in CUHK on topics including security and literacy 2018T1 2018T2 2019T1 2019T2 2020T1 2020T2 2021T1 |
| ENGG1003 | Digital Literacy and Computational Thinking—P (co-teaching) |
An introductory IT course for all students in CUHK on topics including digital literacy and programming 2022T1 2023T1 2023T2 2024T1 2024T2 2025T1 2025T2 2026T1 2026T2 |
| ENGG1110 | Problem Solving with Programming (co-teaching) |
Bootstrap programming course for all Engineering students 2018T1 2019T1 2020T1 2021T1 2025T1 |
External Courses
- 2025 Fall:
Introduction to PureData Music Programming (for Music Office, LCSD) - 2024 Summer:
Generative Music Programming (for The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education) - 2022 Summer, 2023 Spring:
A Primer on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (for CUHK Global Leader Programme) - 2022 Summer:
Music Programming for Mobile Device (for The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education) - 2021 Summer:
Hands on Introduction to Python and Machine Learning (for CUHK Summer Institute)
Awards
- Department Exemplary Teaching Award (2021), CSE
Others
Before joining CUHK, I held the post of Teaching Associate at the HK University of Science and Technology for some years. Here is a selection of courses I have been responsible for, especially in lab design and teaching:
- COMP1001 (COMP101) Exploring Multimedia and Internet Computing
- COMP1021 Introduction to Computer Science (Python)
- COMP1022Q Introduction to Computing with Excel VBA
- COMP3311 Database Management Systems
- COMP3511 Operating Systems
- COMP4441 (COMP342) Introduction to Computer Music
- USTM17 Linux Networking Administration
Projects
CSE Final Year Projects
Every year, I supervise a few groups of AIST/CE/CS students for their capstone projects. Topic is usually flexible on the computer music theme suiting students' interests.
| Year | Group | Students |
|---|---|---|
| 2026–27 | CJC2601 Generative AI for Musical Theatre |
CHOW Ho Yee Chloe LO Pak Ki Kapakki |
| CJC2602 Exploring |
HSIAO Chih-Kai | |
| CJC2604 Exploring Music Information Retrieval |
CHEUNG Yik Fung Alex MOK Yik Him Hubert |
|
| 2025–26 | CJC2502 Exploring Art Tech: Conducting Game |
KWOK Tsz Yin Katie TOY Min Cheng Jenny |
| CJC2503 Augmented Musical Instrument: Synth Camera |
CHEUNG Ching Yu Eddy LIU Yun Hei Jonathan |
|
| CJC2504 Mutual Reinforcement Learning for Music Generation and Captioning |
CHAU Lai Yin Matthew TAI Alan Siu Cheong |
|
| CJC2505 Life Tracker - An LLM-Integrated Mobile Application for Personal Energy Pattern Analysis |
WONG Chun Hei Vincent ZHEN Zihao EZ |
|
| 2024–25 | CJC2401 Real-Time Sport Posture Correction |
HUI Wang Chi Gordon YUEN Ho Leo |
| CJC2402 Media Translator |
CHEN Chun Hei Henry WONG Pak Kan Patrick |
|
| CJC2403 Music Recommendation System for Video Editing |
DU Chun Man Preston NG Chun To Chester |
|
| CJC2404 Music to Acappella Score Generation * Accepted for presentation in AIMC 2025, see demo and poster |
LAM Tak Ai Chelsea LO Wing Fung Matthew |
|
| 2023–24 | CJC2302 Smart Music Teacher * Accepted for oral presentation in UbiMus 2024, see video * Collaboration with Parsons Music |
CHENG Tsz Ying Christy CHEUNG Chi Wang Hugo |
| CJC2303 MuseMixer: Personalising Orchestral Brilliance |
HO Yuet Ching Sarah SHIN Jaewon |
|
| CJC2304 Exploring Cover Song Identification using Music Information Retrieval Techniques |
OR Tin Chun Timothy WONG Yin Hei Ernest |
|
| CJC2305 Music to MIDI Piano Cover Generation * Accepted for oral presentation in MMM 2025, see poster |
YIP Tin Yui Anchor | |
| 2022–23 | CJC2202 Sensors for Piano Acoustic Measurement * Collaboration with Parsons Music |
LAU Yin Hoi Anson LEUNG Wan Yin |
| CJC2203 Exploring Music Information Retrieval |
WAN Yee Ki Kenneth WONG Tsz Lung |
|
| 2021–22 | CJC2101 Music Visualization on Mobile App |
CHENG Mo Mark LI Yan Lap Andrew |
| CJC2104 Deep Music Generation with GAN |
TSO Ka Wing Collin WONG Wing Yan Vincent |
|
| 2021–21 | CJC2001 Music Re-orchestration Automation |
CHEUNG Yu Shing Aaron LAI Jian Zhong Prescott |
| CJC2002 Musical Instrument Design |
LAW Hei Yiu Emily LEUNG Pok Ho Mars |
|
| 2019–20 | CJC1902 Musical Instrument Design | MAK Hoi Lam Karen YIP E Qiao Ashely |
| CJC1904 Guitar Virtual Instrument with Physical Modelling Synthesis * Accepted for oral presentation in ICMC 2020, see video and demo site |
HO Ka Wing Charles LING Yiu Leo |
|
| 2018–19 | CJC1801 Skill Matching Platform | CHAN Ka Wing Venus KWONG Lap Ting Jason |
| CJC1802 Game development | CHAN Ka Yin Ben YIP Tsz Hong Kenneth |
Projects I’m Leading
- Technical Blog:
Computer Music Research Notes - Computer Music Development (CMD)
- ERGMusic
- VOLKS (Virtual Orchestra for the Learners of Keyboards and Synthesizers)
- Here we gather some efforts to talk about and explain computer music research topics in layman terms, for Traditional Chinese readers, at https://medium.com/computer-music-research-notes
- From Summer 2020, I’ve started some projects with the funding support by the Student Campus Work Scheme, and the NAC Campus Service Award.
- Since helping with its foundation in 2005, I have been participating as performer from time to time in the Engineering Concert from time to time. Now I take the role of advisor for the organizing committee since 2019.
- A special group of pianists (and keyboardists) who are motivated to play beyond just at the piano. We had our premiere at CUHK ERGMusic 2025!
Other advising roles
- Academic Advising
- Academic Advisor for New Asia College programmes
- New Asia College Student-Oriented Teaching & Seminars (STOT)
- New Asia College Mentorship
- CEFAR Academy
- Providing advice for small groups of first-year students in the CSE department
- Providing advice and guidance for the NA students in overseas experiences:
- Leading (curating) a small class of Year 1 students from all faculties from our college for discussions and presentations
- I have been a mentor in New Asia College Mentorship scheme for some years since 2019
- I served as an academic advisor for a few projects in the MSc FinTech programme on collaboration with industrial advisors from outside CUHK
Research
Research interests: computer music, music information retrieval, signal processing, audio engineering, music/visual programming, music technology
Publications
- T.-a. Lam, W.-f. Lo, and C.-j. Chau, “Automated Pop-to-Acappella Score Generation,” in Proceedings of the 6th Conference on AI Music Creativity (AIMC 2025), Brussels, Belgium, 10–12 September 2025.
- T. Y. Yip and C.-j. Chau, “Music2MIDI: Pop Music to MIDI Piano Cover Generation,” in Proceedings of the 31st International Conference on Multimedia Modeling (MMM 2025), Nara, Japan, 8–10 January 2025, pp. 101–113.
- T. Y. Cheng, C. W. Cheung, and C.-j. Chau, “Web-based Piano Music Tutoring using Artificial Intelligence,” in Proceedings of the 14th International Symposium on Ubiquitous Music (UbiMus 2024), Macao, 31 October–2 November 2024, pp. 50–53.
- R. Cai and C.-j. Chau, “Symbolic Music Data Analysis Engine,” presented at the Tech-Enhanced Music Education Symposium (TEMES), Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT), McGill University, May 2024.
- K. H. Leung and C.-j. Chau, “Enhancing Parameter Efficiency for Music Source Separation Models,” in Proceedings of the 49th International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Shenzhen, China, 15–20 October 2023, pp. 36–39.
- K.-w. Ho, Y. Ling, and C.-j. Chau, “Guitar Virtual Instrument using Physical Modelling with Collision Simulation,” in Proceedings of the 47th International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Santiago, Chile, 25–31 July 2021, pp. 220–223. (Conference postponed due to COVID-19)
- F. Lau, B. Y. Chang, Y. Hong, C. J. Chau, B. Chu, P. Mok, G. Tang, D. S. Y. Lam, A. Horner, “An Experiential Course on Creative Sound Design,” in Proceedings of the 47th International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Santiago, Chile, 25–31 July 2021, pp. 466–469.
- C.-j. Chau, “Blended and Experiential Learning in Computers and Society,” Presented at Teaching and Learning Innovation Expo, CUHK. [Online]. July 2020.
- H.-t. Chan, R. Mo, C.-j. Chau, and A. Horner, “The Emotional Characteristics of Section String Instruments with Different Pitch and Dynamics,” in Proceedings of the 44th International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Daegu, South Korea, 5–10 Aug 2018, pp. 350–355.
- Y. Hong, C.-j. Chau, and A. Horner, “How often and why mode fails to predict mood in low-arousal classical piano music,” Journal of New Music Research, vol. 47, pp. 462–475, June 2018.
- Y. Hong, C.-j. Chau, and A. Horner, “A Study of What Makes Calm and Sad Music So Difficult to Distinguish in Music Emotion Recognition,” in Proceedings of the 43rd International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Shanghai, China, 15–20 Oct 2017, pp. 413–418.
- Y. Hong, C.-j. Chau, and A. Horner, “Mode and Register Categorizations for Predicting Mood in Classical Piano Music,” in Proceedings of the 43rd International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Shanghai, China, 15–20 Oct 2017, pp. 40–45.
- C.-j. Chau, S.J.M. Gilburt, R. Mo, and A. Horner, “The Emotional Characteristics of Bowed String Instruments with Different Pitch and Dynamics,” Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, vol. 65, pp. 573–588, July 2017.
- Y. Hong, C.-j. Chau, and A. Horner, “An Analysis of Low-Arousal Piano Music Ratings to Uncover What Makes Calm and Sad Music So Difficult to Distinguish in Music Emotion Recognition,” Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, vol. 65, pp. 304–320, April 2017.
- C.-j. Chau, R. Mo, and A. Horner, “The Emotional Characteristics of Piano Sounds with Different Pitch and Dynamics,” Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, vol. 64, pp. 918–932, Nov. 2016.
- C.-j. Chau and A. Horner, “The Emotional Characteristics of Mallet Percussion Instruments with Different Pitches and Mallet Hardness,” in Proceedings of the 42nd International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Utrecht, The Netherlands, 12–16 Sept 2016, pp. 401–404.
- S.J.M. Gilburt, C.-j. Chau, and A. Horner, “The Effects of Pitch and Dynamics on the Emotional Characteristics of Bowed String Instruments,” in Proceedings of the 42nd International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Utrecht, The Netherlands, 12–16 Sept 2016, pp. 405–410.
- C.-j. Chau and A. Horner, “The Effects of Pitch and Dynamics on the Emotional Characteristics of Piano Sounds,” in Proceedings of the 41st International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Denton, Texas, USA, 25 Sept–1 Oct 2015, pp. 372–375.
- C.-j. Chau, B. Wu, and A. Horner, “The Effects of Early Release on Emotion Characteristics and Timbre in Non-Sustaining Musical Instrument Tones,” in Proceedings of the 41st International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Denton, Texas, USA, 25 Sept–1 Oct 2015, pp. 138–141.
- C.-j. Chau, B. Wu, and A. Horner, “The Emotional Characteristics and Timbre of Nonsustaining Instrument Sounds,” Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, vol. 63, pp. 228–244, Apr. 2015.
- C.-j. Chau, B. Wu, and A. Horner, “Timbre Features and Music Emotion in Plucked String, Mallet Percussion, and Keyboard Tones,” in Proceedings of the 40th International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Athens, Greece, 14–20 Sept 2014, pp. 982–989.
Talks
- C.-j. Chau and W. M. Szeto, “A Two-Part Jam Session on Music, Creativity, and Artificial Intelligence,” Public lecture for New Asia College / Xinya College, Tsinghua University Summer Exchange Programme 2025, 9 July 2025.
- C.-j. Chau, “AI Assistants Made Easy — Copilot Workshop,” Guest Talk for Staff Association of New Asia College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 13 May 2025.
- C.-j. Chau, “Algorithmic Artistry: Musical Ideas for Pythonists,” PyCon Hong Kong 2024, 16 November 2024.
- C.-j. Chau, “Digital Arts and Artificial Intelligence,” Guest Talk for Science Academy for Young Talents, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 3 August 2021.
Press
- CUHK UPDates: Go On, Little Nightingale: What AI does for art—and what it doesn't (2021).
- HKUST News: Engineer Loves Music (2016).
PhD Thesis
- C.-j. Chau, “Characterizing the emotion of individual piano and other musical instrument sounds,” Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, 2017. (slides)
Other services
- Assistant Editor: Computer Music Journal (Since 2022)
- Program committee member: Workshop on Functional Art, Music, Modeling and Design
- Ad-hoc journal peer reviewer:
- Ad-hoc book proposal peer reviewer: Routledge — Audio
Contact
- Office: Room 328, 3/F, Pi Ch'iu Building, CUHK
- Consultation hours:
- Monday 14:30–15:30,
- Wednesday 15:30–16:30, or
- by appointment
- Email: chuckjee at cse.cuhk.edu.hk
- Tel: (852) 3943 9783