Today's Highlights
SYNTHFARM, India’s Leading Residency For Electronic Music Is Back!
By
Ankit Chugh
October 29, 2019
October 29, 2019
Synthfarm 2020 starts on 6-8th February!
Since March 2015, Synthfarm has completed 6 programs. The first edition hosted 10 participants and 3 faculty members. Since 2015, participation has doubled: Episode 6 February 2019 concluded with 19 participants and 5 faculty members. The applications to join the residency has grown 250% during the last 4 years: due to the limited capacity in terms of lodging, food and hospitality at the residency, the current ‘student cap’ is set to 22 persons plus 5 faculty members and 3 part-time assistance staff. At Synthfarm, total ‘Learning Hours’ counted approximately 4550 hours [6 residencies conducted over the last 4 years with a total of 92 participants and 7 unique faculty experts]
Visiting Student Demographics.
A. Newbies - Young Non-Professionals - 32% - 18 to 30 years. B. Semi-professionals - 44% - 30 to 35 years. C. Professionals - 24% - 35 to 55 years. D. Male : Female Ratio 7 : 3
Faculty / Educator Demographics.
A. 35% Faculty is based outside India. 65% in India. B. Average Faculty Age - 40 Years. C. Cost of Faculty = Travel + Stay + Hospitality - Is paid 100% via internal resources of Synthfarm. Mentors = Male : Female Ratio 2 : 0
COURSEWARE
1. Modular Synthesis - Understanding components and overview of modular synthesis [VCO, VCA, LFO, Sequencer, Patching & Mixing] ‘Prepared Synthesis’ and performance using modular synthesizers. 2. Do-it-Yourself! - Understanding electricity and circuits to make basic fun synthesizers. Participants learn how to assemble DIY kits designed and fabricated by Animal Factory Amplification and 5Volts. 3. The Live Studio - Layout, formation, dynamics and ‘real-time’ use of the studio as a ‘Live Space’. This involves connecting, patching, mixing of instruments, synthesizers, microphones and voice. 4. Audio Midi Basics for Beginners - Participants are introduced to the basics of MIDI and Audio, concepts of time, pitch and arrangement. Digital information and its practical applications in music production.
5. Ableton - Basics. Workflow. An overview of the creation of sounds and beats. Harnessing Midi and Audio inside Ableton environment. Esoteric ways of performing live electronic music.
6. Software Based Music Production - Participants learn various tools involved in the production. Creating sounds, rhythm, mixing, equalization, compression and esoteric problem-solving. Virtual Synthesis.
7. Edicts of Electronic Music - Brief overview of the foundations (and accidents) of electronic music through discussions and presentations.
8. Cognitive Science of Sound - Conceptual deconstruction of music via critical theory. Cognitive skill formation as building blocks for understanding music in a cultural, social, economic and political context.
9. Dynamics of Live Synthesis - Multiple users interact, connect and share digital information to make live music or end up with lots of noise! Team building via sound and the harnessing of collective sonic energy.
10. Generative Music / Art of Randomization - The advent of generative artificial intelligence in music production. From basic concepts [Why and How to Randomize] to building practical musical models.
11. Hardware Software Integration - Rudiments and options to merge hardware and software. For making sounds, for recording and producing music.
ECONOMICS OF SYNTHFARM
The cost of education is subsidized at Synthfarm to attract more students as well as create diversity (of classes, gender, geographies, practices etc.) A majority of urban music schools and tech-institutions in India charge exorbitant prices (often unaffordable by most amateur artists). Our ideology has gradually succeeded in its objective due to appropriated funds and resources of curators and informal donations. Yet sustainability over the long term remains insecure
Let's look at some existing examples of short-term courses in the field of electronic music production.
1. Point Blank School (London) - 2-weekend course = 400 euros.
2. London School of Music - 2-day course = 240 euros.
3. True School of Music (Mumbai) - 2-week course = 320 euros.
4. Swarnbhoomi Music Academy (Chennai) - 3 Month Diploma = 1350 euros.
5. Berklee Online - 4-week course - 1280 euros.
(these costs do not include travel, accommodation and food)
Synthfarm - 3 day residency including stay and food = 110 euros.
ECOLOGY & SYNTHFARM
Set inside lush tropical flora and fauna, the residency invites artists with a positive attitude, attuned for growth and creativity. Synthfarm encourages an organic, ecologic and progressive outlook towards life and music alike. The residency is also vested in nature conservation and will devote resources in this direction 2019 onwards. We believe in sharing & caring: Being conscious about mother earth, the animals, birds and plants just like we are about electronic music, the technology and culture. For more information, you can read more here. Related News
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