In this four-week class, we will explore Soundpainting, an interdisciplinary composing sign language created by Walter Thompson. Originally developed as a way to shape large ensemble improvised music groups in New York’s downtown scene, Soundpainting has gradually grown into a large and internationally used system of hand signs for creating spontaneous compositions with musicians, actors, dancers, and visual artists. In this workshop, we will learn basic signs to construct layered compositions in real time using the improvisational offerings from the ensemble as our building blocks. Our approach will be hands-on, practical, and flexible, and all participants will act as both performers and composers/Soundpainters.

For this class the instructor is hoping to curate a group of students with a variety of roles--after registering students should complete this Google Form to indicate if you are a musician, actor, dancer, or visual artist.

Please note: Tuition-free classes require an active Fleisher membership.