For the next four weeks we will be dealing with creating not just music, but the instruments which will do the playing.
The Rules
You will be divided into a number of small orchestras. Each member of each orchestra is required to create a musical instrument. The group will then compose and perform music for these instruments. Marks will be awarded for imagination and technical ability, including performance skills as well as the visual appearance of the instruments.
This is a musical, technical, visual and social project.
The whole group will be divided into groups (at random)
Each person within each group invents one musical instrument
You may invent either physical or virtual instruments
For the workshop, each group organises a performance using, exclusively, those instruments.
The Orchestras
Each orchestra must contain instruments which use the following methods of sound production:
A vibrating string, scraped or plucked - e.g. violin or guitar
A vibrating string, beaten, e.g. a piano
The disturbance of a column of air e.g. wind
The disturbance of a membrane e.g. percussion
The use of electronics - you must include at least one instance of synthesis
NB There should be no more than three instruments whose basic method of sound production is percussive, (that is, things which are beaten, scraped, scratched, whipped or otherwise abused).
Documentation
Documentation should include a short written description of your part in the performance and a video of you demonstrating your own instrument in a short musical performance.
Group work
Group work can create difficulties, so please do the following in your groups:
If necessary appoint a leader or administrator who will agree to coordinate activities
Keep a log of all activities including notes, photos, videos and recordings
For each meeting or rehearsal keep a list of attendees. All attendees should sign the list for all occasions
The final logbook should be agreed and signed by all group members. If agreement cannot be reached, each group member should produce an account of the reasons for the differences.
Each individual is advised to keep a personal record of participation for submission.
The logbook shall raise or lower the mark awarded to each individual by a maximum of 25%.
In general the assumption is that all members of a group will receive a similar mark. This mark will be modulated by perceived differences in participation.
Additional Points:
At least one instrument should require electronic technologies.
In at least two of the instruments the mechanism by which the methods of creating the sound are implemented should be of primary concern, (for example, using some sort of device for hitting one or more implements).
At least two of the instruments should result in sounds of a definite (although not necessarily tempered) pitch.
All instruments should play from some sort of notated score. This may be tested by the exchange of group members.
Optionally, one 'standard' instrument may be used
Each orchestra my use up to three musical 'accessories' such as bows, mutes, plectrums or mouthpieces.
Optionally, each orchestra may include one human body as a sound making device.
There should be no use of unadulterated, unadapted readymade or manufactured items (with the exception of rule 10 above).
All instruments should be designed and the plans handed in with the final portfolios.
Marks will be awarded for quality and originality of design, quality of manufacture, quality and originality of sound, ease and versatility of use.
Duration should be no less than three minutes, and no greater than fifteen.
Ideas
It may be advisable to investigate which types of sounds you want to include in your final compositions before deciding how to make your own...
Things to consider: how are your instruments to be played, what can you do with them?
Each group organises a performance using, exclusively, those instruments.