Applications
for current series of ITEM are now closed
presents
ITEM is a series of weekly hands-on group electronic music workshops.
This project is free to participants and takes place in the West End of Glasgow over 6 weeks. ITEM will be run at two levels in tandem - LEVEL I & LEVEL II (more details below).
ITEM is led by Lewis Cook (Free Love) and assisted by Ray Aggs (R.Aggs, Sacred Paws, Trash Kit) Rickie McNeill (Cru Servers, Fox Gut Daata), Suzi Cook (Free Love) and will feature guest workshop leaders.
When we opened up applications for last years series of ITEM we were overwhelmed by the response. Although still limited in number, this time we have more places to offer participants.
Similarly, we received many applications from artists who were already well on their journey into creating electronic music where an introductory course might not have been appropriate to offer them. This time, as well as our main series of introductory workshops (LEVEL I), we have a smaller number of places for a LEVEL II series of workshops for those with a bit more experience which will focus on group discourse, collaboration and an opportunity to deepen your practice in a group environment.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS SERIES OF ITEM. PLEASE SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST TO BE INFORMED OF FUTURE WORKSHOPS.
5 weeks of workshops
1 group recording day
Free Ableton Live License
ITEM LEVEL I
Suitable for beginner/intermediate level of experience
ITEM LEVEL II
5 weeks of workshops
1 recording day per participant
Free Ableton Live License
Suitable for experienced and/or practicing electronic musicians
This project will run twice. Once starting in January and once starting in March.
Level I workshops will take place on either Monday or Tuesday. You will be asked your preferred start date and day of the week (if applicable) when applying.
All classes are in the evening from 6pm-9pm at La Chunky Studios in Glasgow.
Monday Group
8th Jan, 15th Jan, 22nd Jan, 29th Jan, 5th Feb 12th Feb
Tuesday Group
9th Jan, 16th Jan, 23rd Jan, 30th Jan, 6th Feb
JANUARY START DATES
Monday Group
11th Mar, 18th Mar, 25th Mar, 1st April, 8th April, 15th April
Tuesday Group
9th Jan, 16th Jan, 23rd Jan, 30th Jan, 6th Feb
MARCH START DATES
LEVEL I
Wednesdays
10th Jan, 17th Jan, 24th Jan, 31st Jan, 7th Feb
+ 1 studio recording day
JANUARY START DATES
Wednesdays
13th Mar, 20th Mar, 27th Mar, 3rd April, 10th April
+1 Studio Recording Day
MARCH START DATES
LEVEL II
LEARN
Learning together as part of a group, you will be introduced to the core elements of electronic music, learning skills that will allow you to produce your own music.
Through hands-on learning and exploration with a combination of both software and hardware, we will gain a familiarity and understanding of:
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synthesis, sampling, sequencing, connectivity, effects, methods for putting together a live set, and much more.
Ableton have generously supported this project by offering free licenses. Each student will receive a free license for Ableton Live Intro and we will explore this software together as a canvas for creation.
Workshops at LEVEL II will exist as an incubator for group learning and collaboration, exploring a different theme each week and deep-diving into techniques, philosophies and perspectives in creating electronic music.
Whilst workshops will be led with certain outcomes each week, themes will be obtuse in their scope to create space for free-flowing conversation and dialogue between participants.
Topics covered include:
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Mixing on Ableton, Eurorack Modular (led by Jason Lim of Instruo), Exploring Melody and Tone, Exploring Rhythms, Performing Live.
Workshops will offer technical skills and insight when appropriate but will primarily focus on creativity, with an emphasis in collaborative creation.
We will explore the context and history of electronic music, delving into the significance of dub, tape music, disco, synthpop, krautrock, hip-hop, electro, acid, gabber, jungle, techno, hyper-pop, noise and much more.
Exploring the contributions of pioneers, particularly those of ethnic minority, queer, working class, disabled and female musicians and communities.
SHARE
Classes will take the form of group workshops, learning and developing skills together. This project will be supplemented with a Discord server where materials, ideas and resources can be shared between the groups online.
We believe that community and collaboration is an important part of creativity - sharing ideas, resources and imagination - breaking down boundaries of exclusion and exploring the learning and creative process as a holistic practice.
Throughout its history, electronic music has been the sound of progression, disruption of normality and transcendent unity.
We aim to create space for an active participation in this lineage.
ITEM offers the opportunity to have experience of working with and learning about analog, digital, hardware and software instruments ranging from the 1970s to modern day.
We employ this hybrid approach to learning and creation to inspire creativity and being curious about the ways we can engage with these instruments rather than sticking to formulas.
Our own library of instruments will also be generously supplemented by equipment and instruments from Rubadub, Instruo and Expert Sleepers.
PLAY
CREATE
At the end of 5 weeks of workshops, participants will be offered a day to record in La Chunky Studios.
For Level I, this will be a group recording day - an opportunity to practice the skills developed throughout the workshops, create and explore in a professional studio with an in-house engineer.
For Level II, each participant will be offered a recording day EACH.
This might be an opportunity to collaborate with other participants, or an opportunity to professionally record music using the assets of the studio including an in-house engineer. Participants will own the rights to their music fully.
