Some 21 schools across the Island will be discovering what it’s like to be part of an orchestra thanks to the pioneering MusicLab project…and so can members of the public.
On Saturday October 18th between 10am and 5pm MusicLab, a ground-breaking pop-up orchestral experience housed in a 13.5 metre long vehicle packed full of interactive technology, will be at St Ninian’s Lower School, Onchan and open to the public, free of charge.
The lab provides a unique opportunity for people to find out just what it’s like to be a composer, musician or producer as they visit five activity ‘stations’: Chorus Booth (a mini recording studio enabling pupils to sing along to music, with recordings eventually layered to produce a ‘school’ piece); The Console (using your hand as a composer remixing orchestra sounds); The Instruments (try your hand at French horn, timpani, cello and clarinet under video instruction); Hi5! (creating music by touching a digital sound board); and Listening Bench (learn all about the Philharmonia Orchestra through a film library, such as how it recorded the music for the Harry Potter video games).
The Isle of Man is the first place outside of mainland Britain where the MusicLab, part of a two-year ‘iOrchestra’ digital audience and education project by the London Philharmonia Orchestra, will have toured, a visit made possible by the Isle of Man Arts Council and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, the latter having provided free transportation for the lab.
The Island tour is a highlight of this year’s Island of Culture celebrations, as events director Michael Lees explained. ‘The MusicLab open day will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people to discover the world of orchestral music in a new and exciting way and we’re delighted that the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company shared our vision for the project and generously sponsored the lab’s transportation.
‘I would urge people to come to the open day on Saturday. This is technology with the power to change people’s perceptions of “orchestra” and ignite renewed interest in music in its widest sense. It’s inspiring. It’s involving and we may never see its like again in the Isle of Man.’
Suitable for adults and children of all ages the open day is free of charge and there’s no need to book…just turn up between 10am and 5pm.
