Workshop Notes: November 2025
Leeds to Lizard, Malmö to Ziyang, lots going on
A couple of months back, Jake Mehew (a Richie Hawtin PhD scholar at University of Huddersfield) asked if he could borrow the Workshop System loan set. Jake recruited a gang of University of Leeds music students, ran a workshop/rehearsal with them and they performed a 30 minute improvised set at at Belgrave Music Hall last Saturday as part of Computer Club 4.0. It was such a joy for me to watch, some ace noises. I was watching with local lad Mylar Melodies and neither of us could work out how they were each doing what they were doing (I kept saying ‘hang on, there’s no noise generator!’). If you have an idea and want to borrow 1-12 Workshop Systems for an event (probably UK only unless you have a way to ship them yourself) then please get in touch.
Three interesting new work-in-progress Program Cards:
Dune is developing Blackbird, a Computer version of Monome Crow, a scriptable USB-to-CV device that I must admit I don’t completely understand (but seems extremely chill). You can find his latest version here, or follow the discussion on discord.
This is a nice thread where BrainlessBoy starts to develop a piano program card, gets some help, makes something that sounds interestingly weird, evolves the idea.
Johan is developing Six!, a really interesting 6-step sequencer inspired by Jake’s wonderful RYK M185, some nice chill sound demos in this thread.
Love this video by Bark Bark Dog Studios: sampling a flute into an ancient Casio SK1, recording that to tape, then processing it through the Workshop System.
A Symphony of Bureaucracy was an event a couple of weeks ago in Malmö’s Cultural Sound Zone. Data sonification experts Loud Numbers used eight small modular synths (including a Workshop System!) to perform “a data-driven fugue, where eight interlinked melodic lines weave in and out of each other, covering a timeline from the 1950s to the present day”.
Ronnie Deelen writes from an artist residency in Ziyang, China where he’s using his Workshop System to synthesise crickets. I love how this sounds but my wife found it extremely irritating.
If you’re in London, SchneidersKeller in Denmark Street is such a joyful place: You can drop in, play with huge modular systems (or the Workshop System in the corner) and chat to Edd & Jean-Marcel. Then pop over to The Serpentine to look at Peter Doig’s Huge Speakers.
Upcoming events:
Right now I’m in Cornwall for the Dyski Radio Music residency, I’ll write more about that next time, to find out about future events join their list.
The Sound Bureau on November 11th at The Hamlet in Streatham, South London: Experimental Improvised Music featuring the Music Thing Modular Workshop System. I’m excited about this one, four very experienced improvisers — Phil Durrant, Tansy Spinks, John Macedo & Tom Ward — will play an all Workshop System set. Details & tickets.
On December 7th I’ll be at Goldsmiths Electronic Music Studio, also in South London, for a full day workshop with students.
On January 17th I’ll be in Cardiff for a Music Lab event with teenagers, do get in touch if you’re around that weekend and have an idea.
In April 2026 I’ll be at the wonderful Elektronmusikstudion Stockholm for an event, so if you’re in Scandinavia and have an idea, do get in touch.
New music from Workshop Systems:
Johan playing his WS with the heat from a candle.
Hardworking families live improv set.
Dean Sabatino composition for WS and old answerphone messages.
Finally, Gaetano writes from Switzerland: “I used your youtube instructions. Finished in same time. All parts included. All works. TOTALLY beginner friendly! So, with hand on my heart, I herewith thank you very much for giving me this wonderful experience!”
If you’re still reading this, please forward it to someone who might enjoy it.
See you next month,
Tom