Workshop and Hands-on Laboratory on Music, Sensors, and Emotion (MuSE)

Sunday, 24th August: 10AM -12:30PM

Registration is now closed, workshop is full.

Breaking News: One participant (chosen randomly) will receive a free Infusion Systems' MicroDig Midi Data Acquisition System (value: $249)

This workshop will explore the combined use of physiological sensors (brain waves, heart rhythms, muscle tension, and others) and kinematic sensors in music composition, performance, and the quantitative analysis of gesture and emotion. You will create your own biosignal recordings, create a group "biomusic" piece, as well as receive a set of physiological signal analysis patches for Max and Eyesweb. The measurement of audience response using sensored chairs will be shown as a possibility for use in interactive performances. A concert will follow in the Sonic Lab demonstrating the use of physiological and kinematic sensors for exploring motion and emotion in traditional music performance.

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The Format:

Introduction to the study of emotion – Roddy Cowie (30min)
Ambulatory (on-body) measurement of physiological and kinematic signals – Ben Knapp (30min)
Hands-on introduction to BioTools (30min) – Miguel Ortiz-Pérez
Hands-on laboratory creating a group bio-music piece. Each person will have their own set of sensors and data acquisition system. (60min)

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Audience:

The workshop is intended for those interested in understanding more about physiological measurement techniques and their application to motion and emotion measurement.

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The Teachers:

Ben Knapp is a Senior Lecturer and leads the Music, Sensors, and Emotion (MuSE) research group at SARC. For over 20 years, Ben has been researching and developing user-interfaces and software that enable the composer and performer to augment the physical control of a musical instrument with more direct neural interaction Ben’s research focuses on the use of physiological signals as a means for human-computer interaction and understanding the relationship between organized sound and emotion.

Roddy Cowie is Professor of psychology at Queen's University. His recent work, arising from EC collaborations with J Taylor (KCL), S Kollias (NTUA) and others, has focused on the perception of emotion, where both verbal and visual cues function to convey intensely subjective experiences. He was PI and coordinator for the FP6 NOE HUMAINE studying human emotion and interaction.

Miguel Angel Ortiz Pérez is a mexican composer and sound artist based in Belfast. He is currently pursuing a PhD at SARC as part of the MuSE group. He has worked professionally as a composer, sound engineer, lecturer, score editor, promoter and sound designer. He takes part as a performer in ensembles such as BLISS, Control Group and M&B; where he explores a vast array of performing mediums ranging from traditional acoustic instruments as cello and trumpet, to laptop improvisation, performance with bio-instruments and hyperinstruments.

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Concert:

The Reluctant Shaman: A Piece for Traditional Irish Music and Embodied Sensor Systems

Sunday, 24th August: 12:30 -1:00PM

The Reluctant Shaman is a piece that explores traditional Irish music using an actor/musician (the Reluctant Shaman) to lead the audience on a journey through a traditional Irish sacred site and the historical contexts therein. Through the use of sensors worn (unseen) on the Reluctant Shaman, the audience hears what he is imagining and what is happening around him on his journey. Through sensors in the audience’s chairs and on the other performers, an intimate and emotional interaction is created between everyone – an important aspect of Traditional Irish Music. Thus, the concept of embodiment is used in the context of traditional music.