‘Muziek raken’ (Touching music) is an educational project about music I developed together with Marloes Bloemenkamp. She teaches three groups of gifted children in the ages 9-12 from different primary schools in Deventer. Read more (about lesson one and the project in general) in this post.

This third lesson was all about writing music. After a short introduction about music notation (with some beautiful examples by Jaap Blonk and Bernard van Beurden), the children developed their own notation systems based on their own instruments. I was actually quite amazed with the beautiful and inventive results! The children tested their notation systems by playing what they had written in front of the class. Listening to the instruments in a quiet, attentive environment revealed some interesting new sound qualities in some cases. And applause.

In the second part of this lesson we made playable paintings and drawings based on the music notations. The results are to be shown at the end of the project: the live performances at this special junior edition of ACSH. Check some of the work in progress below.

‘Muziek raken’ (Touching music) is an educational project about music I developed together with Marloes Bloemenkamp. She teaches three groups of gifted children in the ages 9-12 from different primary schools in Deventer. Read more (about lesson one and the project in general) in this post.

In lesson two we built our own instruments with materials the kids found at home. We focussed on making the instruments sound ‘just right’, exploring different playing methods, finding ways to amplify soft sounds and finally aesthetics. All the children worked extremely hard and some very original ideas came out of it. For me, to assist them in their quest for a playable instrument that sounded (and looked) cool was fun and hard work at the same time. And very rewarding.

Tomorrow we start with lesson three, where we get to know our instruments better and develop specific music notation systems for them.

This saturday night, esc.rec. presents the 7th edition of The Diamond Exchange, with Emiel Efdée and Jean Klare in Het Burgerweeshuis, Deventer. Read more here.

As promised in my previous post, here are some photo’s of the new work I made for the exhibition ‘Half werk’ at WILLIE in Havenkwartier Deventer. Do also read this beautiful opening speech by Jan van Kessel (in Dutch).

Het Halve Werk (A4 print, framed)

50% (A4 print, framed)

Oogst Zaad (A4 print, framed)

WILLIE (A4 print, framed)

WILLIE (A4 print, framed), detail

I have made some new work for the exhibition ‘Half werk’ at WILLIE (May 13 – 27). The work I made is text-based and as the title suggests it’s all about different ways to perceive halves of something. I haven’t photographed it yet, so I will add photo’s here later.

My work for this exhibition is also inspired by WILLIE itself, the best artists collective, concert venue, art space and club/bar in Deventer. I have grown to love WILLIE over the years and I have put a considerable amount of time and effort in making WILLIE what it is today, together with the other people that make WILLIE tick. Sometimes at the cost of my other work and my income (working for WILLIE doesn’t pay the bills… at all). But it’s time well spent! It still gives me a kick to amaze our audiences with music, art and the overall good experiences we offer them. The feedback we get as organizers of all this cultural splendor is overwhelming at times. Thank you for that!

The past few years WILLIE has operated from a fixed location in Havenkwartier Deventer. Today this whole area is under development. And although the city of Deventer apparently sees the value of what WILLIE brings to the table (on a voluntary basis no less!) and although a collective like WILLIE fits like a glove in the intended cultural profile of Havenkwartier Deventer (which is actively promoted by the municipality of Deventer), we find ourselves forced out of our current location due to a sizeable increase in costs, starting July 2012 (read WILLIE’s official statement here). Clearly we have upgraded the area’s value considerably while we were here ;)

It kind of pains me to type the above, because this has proven to be the inevitable conclusion after a tiresome period of extensive planning, writing, networking, lobbying, organizing, calculating and soulsearching. Not being able to ‘save’ our current location after putting in this much time and effort, together with all the support we got from enthousiastic volunteers and practically all the other cultural organisations in Deventer… does feel like a loss, a failure even.

On the other hand, it feels good to have described WILLIE in such rich detail and to have searched and tried all available options, so we can now honestly say that there is no other choice under the given circumstances. This process has also strengthened our will to keep the concept of WILLIE alive and kicking, with or without a fixed location to work from.

But not so fast… we still have some certified quality time left in our current location and aim to make the best of it! So please enjoy our vibrant program in the months May and June to the fullest, because the future plans of WILLIE are still somewhat shady at best… And for those of you who haven’t visited WILLIE’s super hot spot in Havenkwartier Deventer yet, don’t miss out, your chance is now!