With any musical instrument there are extraneous sounds and quirks we are conditioned to ignore, minimize or obscure. What if we took a different approach, one towards celebrating and highlighting the creaks and squeaks, the bumps and thumps of these "forbidden" realms in recognition of their need to be heard (and for us to enjoy the sonic delights they offer). To forge this path is to confront fears of ridicule and years of perhaps well-intentioned enculturation. It also requires an adjustment in our aesthetic sensibilities and preferences in order to hear these newly foregrounded attributes as pleasant.
More than just recontextualizing errata, this process of uncovering is a deep dive into the soul of music with our individual and collaborative voices more fully engaged. We'll also explore additional aural attributes beyond melody, rhythm and harmony: timbre/color, density, stillness, dynamics, non-verbal communication, vibe and imparting/extracting emotion in our playing. The focus will be on spontaneous combinations within the group and within your own mechanics. We'll work towards a performance on the last night where we set aside our critical discernment in favor of openness and acceptance of how our improvisations unfold in a live context.
Discussions will explore how these pathways affect us and our audiences. We will mostly be inside with our favored indoor instruments though weather permitting we will spend time outside for meditations on what constitutes a pleasing sound. Time in the supportive environment of Hambidge is beneficial to any artistic pursuit. There will be moments for private reflection and integrating what we achieve together.
Instructor: Killick Hinds lives in Athens, Georgia. His music is Appalachian Trance Metal made on unusual stringed instruments with an emphasis on unquantifiable rhythms, intuitive intonation, and shamanistic ROYGBIV. The primary sonic influences on Killick are animals, wind, water, fire, electrical hum, and silence. Pop-culture mashups and ancient and obscure forms infuse his music; the effect more closely resembles speech patterns and emotionally-drawn architecture than it does conventional Western music. Despite its eclectic nature the sounds are surprisingly familiar and accessible to audiences of all ages and levels of musical involvement.
Killick's background includes a degree in Religious Studies/Women's Studies from the University of Maine in Orono, Maine and four decades of involvement in all aspects of music. Killick is a co-founder of the international music label Habitable Records in addition to running H(i)nds(i)ght Studio for mixing and mastering. Recent performances include Festival Humedal in Rosario/Buenos Aires, Argentina; International Bat Night in Oulu, Finland; and Südtirol Jazzfestival in Bozen, Italy.
Killick has given masterclasses in musical improvisation at the University of Colorado Boulder; CalArts in Valencia, California; Alfred University in Alfred, New York; the University of Georgia Athens; and through Conserere in Milan, Italy. Killick has worked with hundreds of musicians and artists from all disciplines on countless projects. He is a 2020 Willson Center Shelter Projects Micro-Fellow and a 2022 Hambidge Fellow. More than 300 albums and over 200 videos can be found through: www.killick.me
Experience Level: Intermediate/Advanced. Need comfort and fluency on your main instrument.
What to Bring:
Bring your favorite "indoor" instrument (and your own amplifier/cables/effects/power supplies if needed) plus an "outdoor" instrument if you have one...otherwise we can improvise our outdoor instruments from nature. Depending on the configuration of our new ensemble, earplugs may be a good item to bring, although we'll endeavor for a medium volume listening environment.