Η Τέχνη του ΜανέΓιάννης Διονυσίου
25 March 2023“Nefes” Vocal EnsembleElena Moudiri Chasiotou
20 March 2024Beatbox & Framing Techniques
Coordination: Giorgos Gargalas, Nikos Diminakis
Duration: 30 hours
Language: Greek, English
18 - 24 August
(18.8 arrival date / 24.8 departure date)
Beatboxing is a vocal technique that originated from the hip-hop culture of America, serving as a form of rhythmic-melodic and tonal framing. It has evolved into a dynamically developing and autonomous field of artistic expression, manifesting in various musical idioms. However, the term 'beatbox' now serves as a more general umbrella term encompassing and grouping numerous vocal techniques of sound production, resulting from experimentation by various individuals across different historical periods. In any case, beatboxing represents another extension of the human desire to experiment with the sounds of their environment, gradually integrating them into a more artistic structure.
The workshop is designed for musicians, particularly singers, as well as actors, dancers, or anyone interested in exploring the sounds of the voice. The goal is to delve into innovative techniques of sound expression. Two fundamental and parallel explorations involve sonographic experimentation and the cultivation of the rhythmic element. Through simple breathing exercises, specific sound techniques, and improvisation, participants are encouraged to discover their own unique sound and style. The framing techniques mentioned in the title pertain to the combination of beatbox techniques with acoustic musical instruments (mainly wind instruments and idiophones, though not excluding any other combination) and electronic instruments with corresponding sound sources."
The workshop encompasses both personal growth and collective dynamics, delving into topics such as:
- Awareness of the breathing process (with emphasis on diaphragmatic and circular breathing respectively)
- Teaching basic beatbox techniques (kick drum, snare drum, cymbals, turntable effects, etc.)
- The concept of structure and improvisation in beatbox
- Combined use of beatbox with musical instruments, with special emphasis on airphones and idiophones (flute, saxophone, didjeridoo, mouth harp, etc.)
- Combined use of beatbox with sound effects and loopstations
Giorgos Gargalas
Giorgos Gargalas is a sound artist and beatboxer who constantly seeks to push the boundaries of what’s possible in music. He constantly explores the relationships between sound and other art forms, such as video art, installations, and performance to create unique and captivating multi-sensory experiences. Drawing on his extensive knowledge of music technology and sound design, George blends traditional beatboxing techniques with cutting-edge electronic tools. He has won awards in competitions and festivals as a beatboxer and sound designer.
He graduated from the Department of Audio and Visual Arts in Corfu in 2018 and from the Postgraduate Department of the Music University of Athens, specializing in “Music Creation for New Media” in 2021. He is currently a Phd student at Faculty of Music & Audiovisual Arts.
Nikos Diminakis
Nikos Diminakis has been a music teacher in primary education since 2008.
He holds a Ph.D. in systematic musicology from the School of Music Studies (A.U.Th.), supervised by professor K. Tsougras. His thesis is related to the saxophone works of Ch. Lauba and specifically the analysis of Lauba’s first concert-studies for saxophones, as well as the evaluation of their virtuosic and pedagogical status. He has published articles in the proceedings of Greek and international musicological conferences (ICMC/ESCOM, AAWM/FMA, Hellenic Musicological Society). He has also delivered a series of courses at the School of Music Studies (A.U.Th.) from 2014 since 2023 (Didjeridoo, Harmony, Vocal and Acoustic Training, Beatbox and Wind Instruments, Extended Saxophone Techniques).
He has also obtained a degree in counterpoint (class: K. Tsougras) as well as the first recognised saxophone diploma (class: Th. Sotiriadis) from the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, based on the current legislation.
Since 2014, he has been actively involved with vocal techniques such as overtone singing and beatbox, aiming to simultaneously applying them mainly to wind instruments (flute, saxophone, didjeridoo, mouth harp, etc.). Gina Georgiadou recorded part of the above in her documentary ‘Beatbox and Winds - Nikos Diminakis’, which premiered in 2017 at the 19th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival and was also transmitted by ERT3. Also, he appears, among others, in George Gargala’s documentary about beatbox, ‘Dancing With the Mouth’ which was broadcasted in 2018 by the Greek Parliament Channel.
Finally, he has collaborated in several performances with the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, the State Orchestra of Thessaloniki as well as the Thessaloniki City Symphony Orchestra. At the same time he has been a member of various and diverse music groups of the city, empirically spanning a wide range of musical genres. Recently he has been collaborating with Thanasis Papakonstantinou both for recording (‘Απροστάτευτος’ / ‘Urbanum’) and live performing (tours 2022-2024).