Frank Wiedemann: Online Mentorship (Winter '21)

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Session 1 - Playing Live Setup Hard- and Software

LIVE - Group session [15th February; 20:30 CET] - Playing Live Setup Hard- and Software

Improvisation as the core of Sebastian's approach to music, a philosophical introduction to the concept and its importance to tapping into your creativity.

We look at improvisation & creativity as something innate within human nature:

Improvisation is to listen; what is listening?
Sebastian's approach to improvisation
Similarities between improvisation and meditation.
Improvisation; the creative expression
Improvisation; openness and awareness
The importance of improvisation - healing and acceptance
Different improvisation exercises
Improvisation with Circle of Live
Let improvisation flow into your general life; Is improvisation our natural expression?

Frank will talk you through his studio set up, what decisions lead him to his current set up. Specific talk about several topics such as cabling, workflow, software and hardware and “real instruments” and acoustics.

Hardware set up, cabling and workflow
Software set up and configuration
Analog synths, drum modules and drum machines
Effect units and Pedals
Hardware vs. Software
Preamps and Converters
“Real“ instruments
Some thoughts about monitors and acoustics

Erika will introduce the course and platform, share with you her experience and background, and discuss the concept of making live music.

Welcome!
Housekeeping
What is playing live?
From pure improve to live playback
Alone or together?
Content that isn’t music

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Session 2: Playing Live / How I Play

LIVE - Group session [18th February; 20:30 CET] - Playing Live / How I Play

The topic of improvisation naturally leads to the idea of collaborations, their role in the creative process (and of improvisation), listening and paying attention to other artists.

Improvising alone vs with others
Openness / inspire & get inspired
Different collaborations / unlocking different things.
Invite / sharing your ideas
Temporary roles
Listen
Non violent communication

Frank will discuss the different mechanisms (pre-sets, tools, tricks) that he uses to help him improvise, capture valuable moments, condense the material, arrange his ideas, and finishing a song.

How to start creating a song
How to start a remix
Some tricks I use
Finding ideas through experimenting
Recording a good signal
Jamming in the studio
Sequencing

During these 3 gear sessions, Erika will walk you through her setup, discuss the roles that different machines play, and show how they work together. She will also address options and ideas beyond her current build.

Sequencers
Live playing & Looping
Drum machines
Synthesizers
Effects
Samplers

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Session 3 : Studio / Set Up

LIVE - Group session [ February 22nd; 20:30 CET] - Studio / Set Up

Discover how reconnecting with nature and meditation can be used as tools to unlock your own creativity.

Meditation:

Different meditation techniques and exercises.
Daily practice / retreat
Meditation - non state
Reminding, not teaching. presence is not something you learn, it's you!

Nature:

The natural expression of the wild
Just be in nature, no activity.
Different exercises in nature.

In the first session of the second week. Frank will lead you through his live-set-up. When you have watched this video, he will go into further details on the set-up, introduce you to his workflow on stage and answer further questions you may have.

Planning a live set and initial thoughts
What equipment I use and why I choose it
Bringing your own gear vs. renting
Centerpieces: Computer and Mixing desk
My workflow on stage
About travelling with gear

In the second gear session, Erika will show you what you need besides your instruments to make your setup work the way you want it to, and talk about the many practicalities of live setups.

MIDI and control voltage
Mixers
Cables
Your Phone
Electricity

4

Session 4: Studio / Making Music

LIVE - Group Session [25th February ; 20:30 CET] - Studio / Making Music

Sebastian will talk through his studio set up, what decisions lead him to his current set up and his advice. Specific talk about several topics such as Software, Hardware, Soundcards etc.

Software set up and configuration
Hardware configuration
Soundcards
Tape Machine (and why would you consider using it?)
Midi controllers / control surface
Loopers
Issues of noise and hum, how to avoid and how to live with it
Stomp boxes and pedal trains
Cables
Sequencers

In the second part of Frank’s introduction to his live-set, he will share more of his experiences on stage. He will give you background information on his approaches and solving issues on stage

Song selection
How i create a live version of a song
Jamming and improvisation
Reacting on problems, dropouts etc
Attaching to the room and audience
Respecting the people playing with you

In the second gear session, Erika will show you what you need besides your instruments to make your setup work the way you want it to, and talk about the many practicalities of live setups.

Including a laptop
What goes with a laptop
Making choices about your gear
Setting up your studio for live
My home-live set up

5

Session 5: Collaborations

LIVE - Group Session [1st March; 20:30 CET] - Collaborations

With improvisation as a technical aspect, Sebastian will discuss the different mechanisms (pre-sets, tools, tricks) that he uses to help him maintain a clear mind and therefore more open to the flow of creativity.

Express and write without a specific purpose
What is your intention with making music? Allow that intension, don’t work against it
Meditation as a tool, why does it help your studio work?
Spend time with an instrument without recording, just for the pleasure of playing/feeling music.
Different angles to approach the expression. Layering / free improvisation / arranging / looping /
Use your feelings as a starting point
Define your temporary frame and express from that
Accept yourself, honour yourself, allow all feelings also the ones that are harder to accept

Touring as a solo-act is one part of Frank. However the integral part of collaboration has been present and vital to Frank also before his electronic music career. He will introduce to the different forms and aspects of his collaborations and how you can grow / develop through these team efforts.

Opening up for making music with others
Improvising
Sharing
The importance of listening
Studio collaborations
Collaborations on stage
About touring with a band

Erika will talk about her creative process, which begins with live jamming, and show you some techniques and ideas for writing music that will ultimately become part of your live performance.

Live creative process vs studio creative process
What is jamming?
Jamming ideas
Listening
Technical & creative goals
Saving as you go (or not)

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Session 6: Beyond Making Music

LIVE - Group Session [4th March; 20:30 CET] - Beyond Making Music

Sebastian will talk you through the various software programmes he uses, plugins and software synths (and why).

Computer
Ableton
What software synths and plug ins
Soundcard
Midi controllers & control surfaces
My template
Mapping
Push & Midi looping

In this last episode Frank will give you an insight of how his story went so far. Here you will learn about his thoughts on communicating and relations, mistakes and decisions.

Building a team
Travelling
Treating people
My way
Motivation and goals
My way / your way
Mapping
Push & Midi looping

Molding jams into a solid live performance requires both intention and organization. Erika will show you the tools and techniques she's developed for turning sounds and sequences into a set that flows well.

Define your intention
Organise your music and ideas
Refine your technical approach
Creting notes and /or a set list
Being mentally prepared