Designing Sound Futures is an interdisciplinary research cluster that seeks to explore sound, inclusive learning, engineering, critical disability studies, and the arts through theoretical and material engagements with modular musical synthesis. Members of the research cluster are drawn from the Faculty of Education, the School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design, and the departments of Humanities, Electrical Engineering/Computer Science and Communications.

Designing Sound Futures will bring York cluster scholars and RAs, artists, electronics engineers, instrument designers, and the disability community into contact with one another through cluster events, materials-centric workshops, and hackathons/buildathons.

In collectively co-exploring the phenomenon of modular synthesis, our research objectives are centred on:

1) Exploring cutting-edge materials and interface design, linking innovations in technology and engineering with social innovation in education and the arts;
2) Developing adapted and new instrument designs and interfaces informed by critical disability studies thinking;
3) Enriching public and industry discourses and practices surrounding technology, learning, and creativity informed by principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion as outlined in critical race theory;
4) Developing wide ranging music, creative arts, and STEAM curricula that challenge inequitable and ableist structures in music education.

York Team Members

Kurt Thumlert (PI), Education

Andreas Kitzmann (co-PI), Humanities

Melanie Baljko, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

James Smith, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Vassilios Tzerpos, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Casey Mecija, Department of Communication Studies

Graham Wakefield, AMPD

David Cecchetto, Humanities

Key External Partners

Jason Nolan, TMU, director Responsive Ecologies Lab (RE/Lab)

adam patrick bell, Western University, director of Canadian Accessible Musical Instruments Network (CAMIN) 

Richard Marsella, director Community Music Schools of Toronto (CMST at Regent Park and Jane & Finch)

I am interested in exploring analogue things in a digital age in order to identify conditions of authenticity, legitimacy and creativity ….. as key drivers of the way we project our identities onto digital and analogue objects and the intimate technologies we own, thus adding to the discourse around digitization of everyday things. This project has two manifestations, the first being a workshop in conjunction with Ryerson University and the second an edited book, under contract with Routledge. The volume is co-edited with Einar Engstrom, Ezra Teboul and Claes Thoren.

Patch Up! is a workshop on musical modular synthesis hosted by York University and the Responsive Ecologies Lab at Ryerson University that brings together scholars, artists, educators, musical instrument designers and engineers to explore modular synthesis and its impact on music and multimedia arts. Through historical, technical, social, aesthetic, pedagogical, artistic and other perspectives, the workshop will open a collective reflection and sharing of knowledge on the powerful connections between technology, creativity, culture and personal agency.

The goal of the workshop is to explore how the features and practices of modular synthesizers set them apart from other music making objects and systems, and how this specific technology has important implications for rethinking creativity, making and inclusive learning, as well as innovations in artistic communities, educational settings, and sound-based industries. The workshop will provide valuable insights into how individuals and communities project their identities onto the objects and the technologies they own, and the search for meaningful technological and artistic encounters.

The workshop brings together scholars, artists, engineers, educators and entrepreneurs in order to break down the boundaries that often separate these spheres, thus leading to a collaborative exchange of knowledge as well as new forms of cultural engagement and artistic practice. Our aim is to create a collegial and multi-disciplinary atmosphere based on the mutual exploration of ideas and hands-on engagement through various forms of interaction, discussion and knowledge sharing. Participants will share their insights as to the reasons behind the growing popularity of modular synthesis and the opportunities that this unique technology provides for musical experimentation and non-screen based interaction and creativity.

Home