How to sound jam

_context

Introduction to the publication by Stephen Kerr (musician and designer), editor of the publication

Music sometimes flows so freely like water that we can barely catch it. Or it erupts like fire in our hearts without warning. It shakes the earth gently as soft, thick vibrations, and moves subtly through the air. In How to Sound Jam, you are invited to explore the elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony and voice. These four building blocks, examined here through the cards in new and unusual ways, can be combined collaboratively to create musical experiences, while maintaining a cosy and warm environment with friends and strangers.

How to Sound Jam exists to facilitate Sound Jams, collective sound-making experiences that encourage playfulness, exploration, and a welcoming environment for everyone. They were originally developed for the collective exhibition S.Å.T.E. - Sounds at the Exposure, 2.11-2.12.2023, but can be used anywhere that there are people excited to listen, play and explore sound.

_process

_prototype // 2023

_publication production // 2024

_result

A deck of 62 cards, divided in six chapters:
_Introduction cards - explaining what is a sound jam session and how to do it;
_Rhythm - the prompts in this chapter give ideas on how to work and disrupt rhythmic patterns;
_Melody - in this chapter there are invitations to make melodic variations;
_Harmony - adding harmony and filling the space with more ambient sounds;
_Voice - ideas how to use your voice in different ways;
_Visual prompts - abstract illustrations that you can use as visual scores for playing.

_colophon

Eternal gratitude to the people who helped me:
▶▶Gersande Schellinx for designing the cards’ case and producing the publication.
▶▶Chaeyoung Kim for printing and co-producing this publication.
▶▶Stephen Kerr for supporting me with some musical theory knowledge and editing the texts.

This work was possible thanks to the invitation by Ron Ritzerfeld and Marie-Jeanne Ameln who run ▶▶SIGN project space in Groningen and working with them was such a pleasure!

Sound Jams is a series of collective sound-making experiences facilitated by Ål Nik [Alexandra Nikolova].

// 30 editions
// riso print
// Rotterdam, 2024