From a CANVAS Facebook post

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[HachiLab Workshop “Wow! Oh! Ah! Let’s Create Rhythm with Our Voices!”
Report & Registration Opens for Sunday, Jan. 22!]

On Sunday, December 23, we held a special workshop as part of the “Music Room of Voices: Sing, Count, and Play” event currently taking
place at the Children’s Science Center HachiLab (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo)!
http://canvas.ws/workshop/12668

As part of our special exhibition, we invited
sound artist Seiichiro Matsumura—whose works feature music created with the human voice—to serve as our instructor, and we took on the challenge of creating music using
the human voice as our medium.

To begin with, we explored what kinds of music can be created with the voice by experiencing the timbre, rhythm, and harmony of the voice through the works on
display. We enjoyed our own voices as sounds that exist before they become
words.

Next, we returned to the workshop room, where each of us used a computer to try our hand at making music. We
used a program called “Pixitracker,” which was developed in Russia. You control it by arranging colorful sound blocks with the
mouse.

After listening to an explanation of how to change the type and pitch of sounds, they tried it out
right away, and everyone quickly got into the swing of things, creating rhythms and melodies.
After recording their own voices and learning how to play them back, they moved on to free creation.
Wearing headphones, they immersed themselves in the world of sound and were completely focused.

Once their compositions were finished, it was time for the recital.
Some children crafted melodies with patterns arranged in beautiful sequences;
others skillfully incorporated percussion to add rhythm;
and still others used repetition effectively to create long pieces.
Each child brought their own creativity and ideas to the table,
and they all seemed to be having a wonderful time as their friends listened to their compositions.

We also had the participants take their
projects home on a USB drive so they could continue working on them once they got home.

The next session will be held on Sunday, January 22, for students in grades 3 through 6. You do not have to be a resident of
Shibuya Ward to participate, so we look forward to your applications.
For more information on how to apply, please visit the following webpage:
http://canvas.ws/workshop/12668

○○● “Wow! Oh! Ah! Let’s Try Making Rhythms with Our Voices!” ●○○
Date: Sunday, January 22, 2016
Times: ① 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ② 2:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Venue:Children’s Science Center Hachi Lab
http://www.shibu-cul.jp/access.html
*Advance registration required
. Participation Fee: Free
. What to Bring: USB flash drive (with at least 10 MB of free space)
. Registration: We will accept phone registrations starting Friday, January 13 (10:00 AM–5:00 PM).
Children’s Science Center HachiLab: 03-3464-3485

★For more information on the special exhibition “Music Room of Voices: Sing, Play, and Create,” please visit this page: http://canvas.ws/workshop/12004