Past School Events

A computer-based series of activities exploring sound synthesis from sinewaves, signals in the time and frequency domains, how to obscure a signal and recover it in the time and frequency domains, sending a secret message to each other and recovering it. Processing sounds can be readily carried out on a standard PC and suitable software is available as freeware.

Every year since 2003, David has been involved with the vocal trio Voice Matters (2 sopranos and a tenor), going into primary schools in North Yorkshire to present live vocal music as part of Sowerby Music's Music for Life scheme. Voice Matters performs a concert, gives group workshops, and the day usually ends with a concert for the whole school, parents and teachers. Technology is used - volunteers step on floor pads to play scales as we explore pitch.

Experiments with talking tape for acoustic amplification and potentiometers for electronic amplification. How does a voltage change when a potentiometer is turned? Using a potentiometer as a control device, in particular, to play a musical scale. Each group had a different scale and gad to setermine which notes lit up which lamps of a set of 8 spotlights. Decide as a class which notes switch on which spotlights - confirm by playing notes on a keyboard to light the lamps.

• How are sounds created electronically?
• How are they controlled for making music?
• How might sounds be controlled in the future?

These and other aspects of making music with technology were discussed and illustrated with hands-on demonstrations, culminating with a live (barely rehearsed!) duet between David and the Headmaster.