The (Guidonian) Hands: Exploring Interaction in Notation
Niki Mitakidou &  José Manuel García Bendezú
Kunst und Medien, Generative Composing, Costume Design, Theatre (Pedagogy), Conducting, Sound Studies and Sonic Arts, and Design and Computation. We would also like to invite Master students from other universities, such as from the MSc Audiokommunikation- und Technologie (TU Berlin), or the MSc Data Science (BHT)
open to all Master progams at UdK

Information on registration tba

About
Our project explores the interplay of Guidonian hand notation, singer-machine-collectives, and wearable technology. We draw on perspectives from music, fashion design, and generative arts. In western music and theory since the Middle Ages the Guidonian Hand served as an interactive tool of non-text-based teaching. Positions on palms and fingers, whose use as computus dates back to Antiquity, indicated pitches, and formed systems of pointing, reading, listening, physically engaging with and interacting between voice, body, and touch--individually and collectively. What new collective expression could emerge, for performative and didactic purposes, if these touches were made computationally interactive? We will dive into the history of sensing music gloves, such as Michel Waisvisz The Hands (1984), and investigate how these have established gestural hierarchies and social dynamics. We want to know: How can we create flexible hierarchies and gestures of care in collective play?

Time & Dates
monthly meetings
21.10.26 16:00 kick-off-meeting
30.10.26 16:30 
20.11.26 16:30 
18.12.26 16:30
18.-04.01.27 presentation/performance preparation, individual time & dates tbd in October
05.02.26 presentation/performance
Block I. Haun: 12.01/13.01 (Fak. Musik)
Block F. Visi: 14.11/15.11 (Fak. Gestaltung)
15.01/16.01 (Fak. Gestaltung & Fak. Musik)

Fulfilment criteria for ungraded accreditation
regular and active participation
presentation/performance

Credits
Studienprogramm Design: MA Modul 1 (4 ECTS Wahlpflicht), MA Anpassungsstudium (6 ECTS Wahlpflicht)
Studiengang KPA MA Musiktheorie: Modul 2: Schriftloses Musizieren (6 ECTS Wahlpflicht), Modul 3: Vermitteln I (5 ECTS), Modul 6: Vermitteln II (4 ECTS), Überfachlicher Wahlbereich (bis 5 ECTS)
Studiengang MA Lehramt Musik: Künstlerisches Profilmodul Musiktheorie 1.11 (3 ECTS), Künstlerisches Profilmodul Komposition/Experimentelle Musik 1.7 (2-3 ECTS), Wahlmodul 6 (2-3 ECTS)