Drake Music
All ages
30
Various ages and needs
3 days
‘Irioronero Jam’ – a community project in Kawasaki, Japan, working with both disabled and non-disabled citizens to compose and perform together.
The physical properties of Cosmo – separate ‘Cosmoids’ for each note or instrument, bright colours, and adjustable pressure sensors – are well suited forpupils with more profound needs. The music games available on the accompanying app work well with pupils working developing cognitive skills, including those articulated in the Engagement Model. I particularly enjoy using the ‘My Orchestra’ activity and giving individual Cosmoids out to a small group and inviting one participant to ‘conduct’ their peers, creating contrasting textures and encouraging teamwork and movement.
How do you use Cosmo at your organisation?
Cosmos are used in a variety of ways at Drake Music
Cosmos are used in a variety of ways at Drake Music. In this project, they were used in a small group activity to reimagine and then perform ‘Forbidden Colours/Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence’ by Ryuchi Sakamoto
What was the aim of the conducted activity?
The facilitator musicians began by performing the song. Participants then had a chance to explore a variety of instruments, including Cosmo, and choose the one they would like to stick with. The group then worked to create an arrangement of the activity, which was then performed the following day to the public.
Musical aims:
Create a new arrangement of the piece, with each participant having a meaningful role in the music. Demonstrate that anyone can compose.
Wider aims:
Use music as a tool of connection and community building. Encourage participants to continue music-making beyond the project.
How was Cosmo used?
Cosmo was used via the Improvisation activity and linked to the Garageband keyboard in the correct key for the song. Participants explored a variety of synth sounds and chose the one they felt worked best within the piece. The Cosmoids played in a free time introduction to the piece, forming a soundscape that was used as a basis for improvisation by violin and piano. Three participants played two Cosmoids each.
How did learners/clients/users respond?
Participants were initially drawn in by the colours of the instruments and the big synth sounds. They appeared to enjoy exploring different combinations of pitches and interacting with the acoustic instruments.
What was challenging?
An added layer of depth would have been if the cosmoids were pressure sensitive, so that participants could explore dynamics within their playing.
What worked the best?
The colour element is really compelling as well as the ability to spatially order the Cosmoids, either to represent pitch or to split the cosmos between multiple participants.