COLLECTIVE REFLECTIONS:
WHAT ROLE FOR MUSICIANS IN A WORLD IN CRISIS?
We propose to mobilise the collective intelligence and creativity of musicians in response to the scale and complexity of the world's crises, as we believe that artists are key actors capable of catalysing positive change (environmental, social, etc.). This approach acknowledges that the crises shaking the world have become too complex and interconnected to ignore such a rich source of innovation.
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To this end, we will organise a series of collective reflections in the form of participatory workshops in two parts. The first part will consist of a round table, where existing examples of initiatives or actions by musicians on relevant environmental and social topics will be presented, notably through the testimonies of local artists engaged with these themes. The goal is to inspire participants to imagine initiatives with strong potential for societal impact.
Next, participants will be invited to work in groups to develop concrete strategies, drawing on a methodology derived from ‘Design Thinking’. This approach encourages the generation of innovative ideas, the selection of relevant solutions, and their refinement. Beyond the direct results it enables, this technique will be valuable for artists in the long term to develop new ideas, regardless of the theme. Finally, the ideas that emerge from the group work will be shared in a plenary session to close the event. The results of these collective reflections will then be aggregated, analysed, and published in an article to make these insights accessible to the widest possible audience. |
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The first event in this series took place successfully at L'Interlope (Case à Chocs, Neuchâtel) on December 1st, 2024. A summary of the event is available here (in French)
This event is supported by the Canton of Neuchâtel as part of its ‘vivre ensemble’ programme. |
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AMP: AMPLIFYING MUSIC PROSPECTS
Expanding the perspectives and agency of music students from disadvantaged communities
Why is this project important?
Hundreds of music schools transform the lives of children and youth from underserved communities worldwide. But professional music is a highly competitive environment. Permanent positions and secure career prospects are scarce, even for the best. AMP is a response to this. It is an education programme that widens the career prospects of music students.
Hundreds of music schools transform the lives of children and youth from underserved communities worldwide. But professional music is a highly competitive environment. Permanent positions and secure career prospects are scarce, even for the best. AMP is a response to this. It is an education programme that widens the career prospects of music students.
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What is AMP?
AMP is a groundbreaking, ultra-accessible music production education programme based on mobile phones. It complements the work of classical music schools supporting disadvantaged communities by offering introductory training in a diversity of professional fields for students to boost their agency as musicians and widen their professional perspectives. AMP is grounded in the academic knowledge we selected from music production programmes from 5 continents and inspired by the stunning work of Arthur Henry in his amazing project Sampling the World. It comprises introductions to media literacy, music and video production, communication, and entrepreneurship. AMP proposes further learning resources on each topic so students can dig deeper later on. AMP is:
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THIS PROJET TOOK PLACE IN SÃO PAULO IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER FOR THE FIRST TIME.
It was run in collaboration with the Baccarelli Institute in October and the Casa dos Curumins in November.
The Baccarelli Institute is a classical music school supporting 1200 students located in Heliópolis, the largest favela in Latin America.
The Casa dos Curumins promotes the socio-cultural inclusion of socially vulnerable children, adolescents, young people and the elderly in the south of São Paulo.
The Baccarelli Institute is a classical music school supporting 1200 students located in Heliópolis, the largest favela in Latin America.
The Casa dos Curumins promotes the socio-cultural inclusion of socially vulnerable children, adolescents, young people and the elderly in the south of São Paulo.
AMPED: ACTIONABLE Music Production Education
Why is this project important?
Many countries have gifted artists and a rich musical heritage but struggle to export their culture. By expanding their music production capacities, they could better preserve their traditions, grow their music industry and increase their musical edge internationally. This can be achieved through AMPED, our educational project designed to be integrated into existing music teaching institutions.
Many countries have gifted artists and a rich musical heritage but struggle to export their culture. By expanding their music production capacities, they could better preserve their traditions, grow their music industry and increase their musical edge internationally. This can be achieved through AMPED, our educational project designed to be integrated into existing music teaching institutions.
What is AMPED?
AMPED is a university-level curriculum on music production. It enables students to tailor their craft to relevant audiences, master recording and mixing techniques, analyse music from a producer’s perspective, and produce and advertise products. AMPED is a modular programme that uses essential theory to inform practice and prepares students for the modern music industry.
AMPED is a university-level curriculum on music production. It enables students to tailor their craft to relevant audiences, master recording and mixing techniques, analyse music from a producer’s perspective, and produce and advertise products. AMPED is a modular programme that uses essential theory to inform practice and prepares students for the modern music industry.
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AMPED key outcomes
An academic curriculum tailored to introduce proficient musicians to the essential elements of music production, AMPED is expected to produce the following main outcomes:
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How does it work?
AMPED covers music production and entrepreneurship and expands the skills of participants with proven ear training: music students. Our curriculum is based on the best music production courses from 5 continents and is tailored in partnership with local institutions to fit their needs. Local institutions are responsible for the equipment, staff, and logistics to ensure their ownership of the programme. IRMA ensures the curriculum is up-to-date, incorporating new insights from AMPED rolled out elsewhere.
AMPED covers music production and entrepreneurship and expands the skills of participants with proven ear training: music students. Our curriculum is based on the best music production courses from 5 continents and is tailored in partnership with local institutions to fit their needs. Local institutions are responsible for the equipment, staff, and logistics to ensure their ownership of the programme. IRMA ensures the curriculum is up-to-date, incorporating new insights from AMPED rolled out elsewhere.
AMPED WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM 2025
Listening to Climate Change
In collaboration with the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology at the University of Manchester and Studio Mécanique, we produce immersive audio accounts of the human influence on the environment made of natural sounds. Please visit cucusonic.net for more information.
On April 5, 2024, we had the privilege to present an immersive audio installation made of natural sounds from the Colombian rainforest. It sought to open discussions about climate change and biodiversity loss during PeopleFest, the festival that celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Department of Social Anthropology of the University of Manchester. This project was carried out in collaboration with Rupert Cox, director of the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology at the University of Manchester, and Alejandro Valencia Tobón, who leads the interdisciplinary project Cucusonic.
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Creative Summer Camps
In 2023, we supported the 10-day creative Summer camps organised by the non-profit Mihr Creative Union in Armenia for children who have never experienced anything but life in conflict regions. Away from the war zone, the youth are offered to engage in artistic activities, cooking, and exploration of the local natural wonders. The kids will discover new perspectives to imagine life away from war.
Support to like-minded organisations
In addition to the projects we lead, we support the work of other organisations active in similar fields. We are currently involved in the building of recording studios in Colombia and Lebanon with In Place Of War and source equipment for a youth oasis in a neighbourhood affected by gang violence in Cape Town, South Africa, with In Place Of War and Rise Above Development. We have also accompanied young Ukrainian musicians who fled their country with the Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation, helping them to transition as smoothly as possible to Switzerland.
Picture of the Lavender Hill youth oasis project in Cape Town, South Africa
IRMA is an areligious and apolitical non-profit that promotes positive social change and development in Switzerland and underserved regions abroad. Its mission is to support the most disadvantaged by using music and the arts as means of action.
