Collaborative Composition Workshops

 

Collaborative composition is a fundamental part of my musical practice. Though I enjoy creative solitude, composing in a group is one of the most exhilarating things you can experience, especially when the music is of the moment. I've been privileged to acquire these skills at the NAIP masters in The Royal Conservatory, learning from Guildhall School instructors, and developing my practice for 15 years now (for past projects, please scroll down).

Orkestra Nova - creative youth ensemble project in Metro Vancouver

"untrained" musicians at Impact Hub Belgrade, Serbia

 

Music students at University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

At the core of collaborative composition is participation. Every person is involved in the creative process. The participants are encouraged to think as a community of artists, working as a team to achieve a shared goal. The unconventional approach to genre and instrumentation cultivates an open mindset. Creation is usually approached without the use of written music, which forms a remarkably powerful artistic bond between the individuals.

 

High school students perform their music at Saariaho Festival in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Learning is a natural bi-product of creative collaboration, as are playing, improvising, listening, discussing, arranging and rehearsing, all major contributors to musical and artistic growth. 

 

The approach usually varies depending on the goals of a given project, which influences the starting point. This is the initial creative step and could be a great many things: a pre-written melody/rhythm/chord progression, text (existing or written in the moment), an idea or concept, a piece of repertoire, non-musical elements (picture, book, experience, nature) etc.

The end result is an original piece of music, ideally performed for an audience and/or recorded.

 

Past facilitation:

After School by Melodi Music, Soweto, South Africa (financed by Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

  • Youth Empowerment Program, VSO School of Music (2022-2024)

  • Creative Remix at Roundhouse Community Center, Vancouver (2021/2022/2023/2024)

  • Painting with Sound, VSO School of Music (2021/2022)

  • Pro-D for Surrey School District (2022)

  • Orkestra Nova (2018-present)

  • New Westminster Secondary School, Vancouver Area, BC (2015/2017)

  • St. James Music Academy, Vancouver (2015/2016/2017)

  • University of British Columbia, Vancouver (2016)

  • Pro-D for World Music Continuum, Vancouver (2016)

  • BCMEA conference, (Oct 2015)

  • Impact Hub, Belgrade, Serbia (2015)

  • Pro-D for ArtStarts, BC (2015)

  • Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade, Serbia (2014)

  • Tainan University of Technology (guest teacher), Taiwan (2014)

  • MCO (Netherlands Radio Symphony, Metropole Orchestra), NL (2011-2013)

  • MuziekGebouw, Amsterdam, NL (2009-2013)

  • Saariaho Festival with New European Ensemble, The Hague, NL (2011)

  • Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, NL (2011)

  • Jodie O’Shea Orphanage, Denpasar, Indonesia (2011)

  • Summercamp Stichting JJC (youth rehabilitation center) The Hague, NL (2011)

  • Royal Conservatory/Regentes Theatre, The Hague, NL (2011)

  • Youth Center, Obrenovac, Serbia (2010)

  • Princ Claus Conservatory, Groningen, NL (2010)

  • Melodi Music Trust, Soweto, South Africa (2009 – 2010)

  • Teylingereind Youth Detention Center, Leiden, NL (2008)

 

If you want to know more, here’s a little PDF with more information and a resources.