SoundHoppers is a two hour morning sound and listening workshop, aimed at families with children aged between 5-11 years old.

The sessions aim to encourage careful and deep environmental listening, and a playful engagement with sound as a creative medium. The sessions are split into a listening section and a playing section. The listening section involves games and exercises exploring various qualities of sound - whether that’s proximity (i.e. how far or close a sound is), timbre (i.e. the tonality and type of sound), volume (i.e. how loud or quiet a sound is), or spatiality (i.e. where a sound is located). The playing section involves generating sounds using specially constructed Soundboxes, various bits of percussion, digital devices, micro synths, and found objects.

A slightly different approach is taken compared to regular music workshops in that focus is given to the wider creative possibilities with the medium of sound rather than on musicality. Music is usually considered a language in of itself in that it involves rhythm, pitch, dynamics, and modes of performance, but we feel steering away from this language allows children to be much more uninhibited in their explorations, and allows for a freer and more playful engagement. The intention then, is to instil within the children a sense of careful listening and sonic curiosity, without the formalities of traditional musical discourse.

All materials are supplied and parents may either stay to watch and assist their child or leave their children in the care of the workshop leaders who are DBS certificated. More info at www.SoundHoppers.com