During today's summer school, Emma Welton led a workshop session which was a culmination of the work the groups had previously done with me on timbre and colours. I was impressed by the way Emma has the ability to allow space for things to happen- to allow the moment of things getting stuck to be there and then, perhaps pass, or just to be. All the group were improvising around a colour and a simple direction such as 'mostly silence' or 'B flat'. It was a long session and afterwards, some people said some things such as 'it was really tiring' 'it was relaxing' 'it was awkward' 'I loved that bit when...' 'It was interesting to see what other people thought the colours were because I think blue is this but others thought it was that' 'I didn't know what to do' - that all these things, conflicting things - existed in the same space. I got the feeling that everyone was involved, even if they felt they didn't know how to be. The thing is, there is no right or wrong in that situation. It can be difficult to feel comfortable with that, and to work out what to do with that.
'When music and courtesy are better understood and appreciated, there will be no war.'
Confucius (551-478 BC)