Workshop for composers (beginners and advanced) by Gareth Mitchell :: October 27-28, 2010 :: NK, Elsenstr. 52 2HH 2Etage 12059 Berlin ::
The number of participants is limited to 10 :: Participation fee is €15 ::

How have approaches to guitar and voice in songwriting changed? What has developed since (arguably) the renaissance in this area of the 60s and 70s? What has become acceptable and desirable to our ears? Have certain aspects of the form become less longer acceptable?

The following areas will be discussed and illustrated, partly in live form, partly prerecorded:

Approaches to voice: the Influence of other cultures i.e. World Music/ the internet, the increasing cross-polination of ideas caused by the influx of various diasporas. Effects-i.e. harmonisation, pitch correction, double tracking, filter sweeps, delay, echo

Approaches to guitar- concrete, effects, (looping, distortion, flange, chorus, computer effects), technique ( shredding, tapping, show)

Approaches to control: foot controllers, iPhones, computer keyboards, effects pedals

Approaches to composition: looping, computers (i.e. algorithmic composition, buffer effects, intelligent accompaniment),
repetition, beats, minimalism.

Less/ no longer acceptable?: imprecision, variation in tempo, imperfection? Noise? (i.e. hiss, scratches)
Participants will have the opportunity to try out and experiment with prepared starting points for composition. They will be able to make sounds through guitars and microphones through a range of effects boxes and computer plug-ins, each chosen and prepared in order to stimulate the imagination, offering opportunities to both build on existing ideas in previously unforeseen directions, and create in forms previously unconsidered.

This workshop would be ideal for people who have little or no previous conventional music education, but nevertheless have the desire to experiment sonically. It should also be of great interest to those who are experienced in conceiving song-type structures and are seeking to both expand the sound palette with which they conceive initial designs, as well as colour these ideas utilising new technologies.

Participants should bring with them an instrument and some way of manipulating it i.e. guitar, keyboard, etc -effects pedal/s- amplifier, laptop-soundcard- small speaker, microphone-small amplifier, effects pedal/s, etc. A laptop/soundcard plus an instrument or microphone would be best, as this would allow for the most creative options. Gareth will provide copies of open source software that can be installed on pc or mac computers.

Gareth Mitchell is a songwriter, composer, singer, guitarist and sound artist. He has released CDs for labels such as Kranky, ERS, Absurd and Setola di Maiale. Performances have been given in many locations, such as Nozart in Cologne, Knitting Factory in New York, Online Flash Film Festival in Barcelona and EARational in Holland.

He currently teaches Music Technology in Performance and Acoustics at Hammersmith West London College, as well as Songwriting and Sound Design at Core Arts (also in London.)