Timespan Millennium Community Arts Project incorporating dance, music, theatre and workshops

Soundbeam Day

Timespan - SOUNDBEAM DAY

Monday May 22nd 2000

1.00pm - 9.30pm

Venue: The MENCAP Centre, Enbourne Road, Newbury. (Map available)

What is Soundbeam?

SOUNDBEAM is a totally new way of producing music. By generating Invisible ultra-sonic beams it allows the users' movements to be converted to sound via a keyboard, sampler or sound module.
The movements can be on a large scale - such as dancing or walking across a room or it can be limited to a single part of the body such as the head or hands.
The speed, angle and size of movement will all affect the pitch and tone of sounds produced.
By using a specially adapted switch box up to eight individual switches can also be used in conjunction with the sound beam to trigger sound effects, single notes, musical scales or even full scale musical compositions.

About the Soundbeam Day

There will be two major workshop events.

a) Pre-school Workshop - Adventures With Music & Sound

The children will be using Soundbeam and Switches to create magical worlds of sound from the natural world as well as the modern world of transport and machines.
They will create original rhythms on percussion instruments and produce new and familiar tunes on the Soundbeam.
The workshop will use dance and movement as key elements in operating the soundbeam as well as hands-on instrument playing.
The workshop is appropriate to children of all levels of experience and ability - the emphasis being on fun and creativity.
The workshop will be digitally recorded. Parents will be able to purchase CD copies of the recording after the event.
1.00 - 2.30 p.m.

b) People with Learning Difficulties and Special Needs (3.30 - 5.00pm)

A chance for people with learning difficulties and disabilities to experience soundbeam and take part in the creation of music - no experience necessary. This workshop will also use traditional percussion instruments and digital sampling.

c) MENCAP Gateway Awards Music Group (6.30 p.m. 'til 9.00 p.m.)

Building on a series of workshops led by Mark T., Paul Midgley and dancer Penny Brookman during March and early May - this group will be creating a piece for performance at the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre on Saturday 27th May (2.00pm - 3.30pm) as part of BBC's MUSIC LIVE week.

About the Workshop Leaders

David Jackson, MA, PGCE - Musician (ex Van Der Graaf Generator), Teacher, Interactive Performance Artist, Soundbeam Consultant.

David Jackson was originally well known as the electronic saxophonist of Van der Graaf Generator, he has worked with Peter Gabriel and has released 5 solo albums. His new and innovative work with Soundbeam in the field of interactive musical performance and music education has attracted much attention. He has recently featured in The Times Interface, The Independent and The Guardian, he has appeared on BBC, ITN, CNN, RADIOS 1,3, & 4. David is an acknowledged consultant in Soundbeam and is very experienced at working with all age ranges and abilities. In Timespan he will be leading special workshops with pre-school children, and people with learning difficulties and disabilities. This is a truly unique opportunity for groups in West Berkshire to work with this internationally recognised and acclaimed artist and Soundbeam exponent.

PAUL MIDGLEY (Percussionist / workshop leader)

Paul plays a mixture of Latin African style percussion instruments with the emphasis on move and groove. He is currently studying towards Developing Artform sessions (NVQ Level 3 & 4) with the Musicians Union. He has experience in both Youth and Adult Education and is currently running a hand drumming course at Fairfields Arts Centre, Basingstoke. He has been associated with Traditional Arts Projects for five years.

MARK T (Electric guitar, bodhran, sampling, sound recordist)

Mark is director of Circle of Sound and the overall co-ordinator of the Timespan project. Since 1992 he has run over 45 projects serving all members of the community. As a professional musician he recorded 5 CD's / LP's and played all over the UK and parts of Europe. He has also worked as a broadcaster for the BBC and a journalist. He lectures two days a week at The Henley College.