Music making at Goldsmiths

We are committed to high quality, ambitious and innovative performance. Many of our graduates have achieved a professional career as performers - and taking an active part in our ensembles is HEARable! 

We actively support student initiatives to set up their own groups, so please get in touch. More information can be found on the notice boards on the Music Department corridor on the ground floor in Richard Hoggart Building. We have an extensive collection of chamber music parts and vocal scores available to borrow, and music department students can book rehearsal spaces and equipment.  

Opportunities for music making in the department

(most of our ensembles are open to all at Goldsmiths, not just Music students):

• Contemporary Music Ensemble  
• Electronic Music Studios (Music students only) 
• Expressive Vocal Workshop   
• Goldsmiths Chamber Orchestra  
• Goldsmiths Groove Ensemble  
• Goldsmiths Music Studios (Music students only) 
• Improvisors’ Collective  
• Jazz Workshop  
• Laptop Ensemble 
• NX Records  
• Simon Says  

And taking an active part in our ensembles is HEARable.

Contemporary music ensemble (CME)

Thursday evenings, 6pm - 8pm in RHB 167  Starting 9 October, with a one-off show on Thurs 2 October in The Great Hall 

Led by contemporary music specialist James Creed, the CME reflects the department’s acknowledged expertise in contemporary music studies and has given a number of world premieres. 

In Term 1 we'll be exploring a broad range of experimental music composed after 2000, looking in particular at open, inviting notations and practices that aim simply to bring a group together to play in a certain way. This will mean working with experimental verbal, graphic and staff scores, elements of improvisation, and curious ears. Any and all players welcome—no particular technical ability or familiarity with notation required. 

Electronic music studios (EMS)

Holds concerts during the year, from AV, to stereo, to multi-channel surround sound and provides opportunities for students to have studio-based work performed, including work involving performers. Concerts are held in the Great Hall (multi-channel) and the George Wood Theatre (stereo and live).

Keep an eye on the noticeboards for information.

Contact: ems (@gold.ac.uk)

Goldsmiths music studios (GMS)

We will be running studio sessions and gigs, including the OMNI workshops, which aims to develop the technical knowledge and studio skills of female and non-binary music students through a series of workshops, talks and recording opportunities. 

Contact: gms (@gold.ac.uk)  

Expressive Voice Workshop 

Wednesday evenings, 6.30pm - 8.30pm in RHB 280 (starting 15 October)

Led by Voice Expressions Founder Brenda Rattray, the EVW will kickstart this term with focus on songs from the heart, from all song forms including Soul / Gospel / Pop and Musicals. 

As part of the process, we will work as a group and on individual technique  

Including:  

• Vocal Technique   
• Breath control   
• Belting   
• Inner Connection and outer expressions   

Open to all, not just singers.

Goldsmiths Chamber Orchestra

Wednesday lunchtimes, 1.30pm – 3pm in The Great Hall (starting 8 October)  

Led by Alexis Bennett, the Goldsmiths Chamber Orchestra continues this term and is growing fast after two successful concerts in the last year.  We will endeavour to find repertoire to bring in all players, so do sign up with your name and instrument. We welcome players from outside the department, so get in touch.

There are no auditions, but we do recommend you have at least Grade 5 standard on your instrument. All instruments welcome but we are particularly interested in new members who play: any strings, any brass, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, percussion, harp.   

Join GCO for a chance to play great music at a high standard and meet new people.   

Contact a.bennett (@gold.ac.uk)  or  i.burman (@gold.ac.uk)

Goldsmiths Groove Ensemble 

Monday evenings in RHB 167, 6pm – 8pm, RHB 167 (starting 13 October)

Led by Matt Creighton, the Groove Ensemble is a group improvisation ensemble for all things loud and metrically complex - from fusion to the windmill scene via Latin, math-rock and 70s funk.  

All instruments and levels welcome!  This is the first year of GGE - early rehearsals have been planned out, later sessions will be tailored to the direction set by the students. Come and make it your own. We will aim for a long-ish, continuously improvised performance / gig at the end of term.  

Improvisors' collective

Meets on Wednesdays 3pm – 4.30pm in RHB 274 (starting 16 October) 

The Improvisers’ Collective brings together Goldsmiths students and staff from various musical backgrounds and level of study, from first year undergraduates and masters to PhD students.

Approaches range from open graphic/text scores and structures to completely free improvisation. It features all manners of instruments / technologies / voices / crisp packets. The line-up is flexible, and it is open to all with no audition. 

Jazz Workshop

Tuesday evenings, 7pm – 9pm in RHB 167 (starting 7 October)  
with Pete Wareham 

The music of Charles Mingus.  

In this Mingus-inspired workshop, we seek what Charles Mingus called being a “spontaneous composer”, aiming not to replicate notes but to “play the truth of what I am”, with the wild spontaneity and deep-passion that fuelled his music.  

Laptop ensemble 

Meets on Tuesdays 5pm - 7pm in RHB 268 (starting 1 October) 

The laptop ensemble provides an opportunity for computer musicians to compose, programme, perform and improvise in an ensemble context. The ensemble makes use of controllers and sensors, explores digital instrument design and live electronics, and collaborates with other musicians/ensembles/art forms.   

Please follow the ensemble on Instagram to keep updated: @goldsmithslaptopensemble  

NX Records 

NX Records is an independent record label housed in the Music Department and offers students the chance to volunteer with the record label.

Each year they work on a series of releases and events, including the NX Mixtape, the Guest Curator Programme, and radio broadcasts. For postgraduates, they host a weekly meet-up to showcase and discuss new music.

To get involved, chat to Rich Greenan on nx.recs (@gold.ac.uk)

Simon Says

Curated by students on the BMus in Popular Music and featuring students from the Department of Music, this regular open mic night hosted by the Students' Union has tunes from solo sets of singers/songwriters to bands.

In addition to offering a phenomenal viewing spectacle, in true Goldsmiths tradition there are often additional slots available if you wish to take part. For more information, email simonsays.gold (@gold.ac.uk)

By Music students, for Music Students, open to everyone.
 
The first night in RISE, the SU bar on 12 November. For more info, contact Oliver Greville, Head Venue Technician at RISE olivergreville (@gold.ac.uk).

Steel pan group

Led by recent graduate Jody Humphries, pans played using a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber; the size and type of rubber tip varies according to the class of pan being played.

Steelpans grew out of Trinidad and Tobago's early 20th-century carnival percussion groups and is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Steel Pans Group will be project based in Term 2 with more intensive sessions in The Great Hall, leading to a gig in March. No experience required - tunes are learnt by ear, so no need to read music! 

For many years, new students were introduced to the Department at the start of the academic year with Music Week: an intensive programme of rehearsals and creative workshops that culminate in the opening performances of the season. Previous shows can be viewed on our channel youtube.com/goldsmithsmusic.  

School Research Lounge

We also host the School Research Lounge - a twice termly research and knowledge exchange - aiming to generate a vibrant research culture across the School - open to all.  
Email Holly Rogers on h.rogers (@gold.ac.uk)

Sign-up sheets for our ensembles are on the noticeboards in the main Music corridor in RHB, opposite the EMS (RHB 155) and do keep an eye on the boards for any room/rehearsal changes. 

Check the Goldsmiths events calendar for upcoming events and performances (www.gold.ac.uk/music/events) or contact the Events Manager, Imogen Burman, on i.burman (@gold.ac.uk) for any further information.