Join our half-day workshop as part of NI Science Festival 2025 and explore how musical activity shapes, defines, and redefines social space.
About this Event

Join us for a unique half-day workshop as part of the NI Science Festival 2025, where we'll explore the power of music, sound, and creativity to connect with our environment and each other. This interactive experience navigates through three key themes: personal body experience, connection with the environment, and building relationships through music.

Part One: The Body Experience (45 mins)
Reflect on how our surroundings shape our physical experience. Through body percussion, we’ll explore the rhythm within ourselves, developing our own voices, and understanding the impact of words and sound in creating meaningful connections.

Activities:

Body Exploration through Percussion: Connecting with our personal rhythm.
Developing Your Voice: Learn a short melody and reflect on how to use your voice effectively.
Rhythm and Word: Build a short song together and see how music and lyrics can help build relationships.

Part Two: Experience with the Environment (1 hr 45 mins)
Next, we’ll tap into the creativity of repurposing materials. Bring a plastic, aluminum, or metal object from home and watch as we turn everyday items into musical instruments.

Activities include:

Instrument Construction: Learn how to make drums, güasá, and a PVC marimba using recycled materials.
Environmental Reflections: Reflect on how transforming ordinary objects can change our perception of space and creativity.

Part Three: Experience through Relationships (1 hr)
Now it’s time to connect through sound and collaboration:

Activities include:

Group Sound Exploration: Explore the sounds of the instruments created, learning signals to direct rhythm.
Incorporating Lyrics and Melody: Together, we’ll adapt the song from the first session and incorporate it into a group performance.
Final Ensemble & Jam Session: The session will conclude with a collective jam session, using the instruments to create an improvised performance, guided by the facilitators.

Final Reflection:
We’ll wrap up with a reflection on how music, play, and collaboration foster a sense of community and connection.

This workshop is open to all—no musical experience required! Join us for an afternoon of creativity, collaboration, and community building through sound.

Photography Disclaimer:
Please note that photography and videography may take place during this event for promotional purposes. If you prefer not to be included, please inform a member of the event team upon arrival.

This event is supported by British Council Northern Ireland.

This activity is part of Future Island-Island's events programme for the Northern Ireland Science Festival 2025. FII is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and supported by the Design Museum's Future Observatory.