Percussion insterests me when it does not sound like percussion any more, when the sound source is unrecognizable. When percussion imitates another instrument, voice, a string instruement, an electronic instruments. To achieve this, I use intrument building or research workshops. All these sound discoveries are great for film music.

At Drummondville College, I developped a sound explorations course based on personal creativity. In the course, students discover the various contemporary music movements. After, they create their own music, find the appropriate notation and often have to build instruments in order to play it. Traditionnal instruments are mixed with invented instruments. This course in an exploration lab. A close collaboration with students in sound recording allows the creation of a sound track to which will be added the students' own creations.

Each year, a Quebec artist known for his impact in the arts field is chose as a source of inspiration. The class visits his studio, or hi is invited to the college. Since 1996, students have produced concerts with arts films projections on Armand Vaillancour,t sculptor, Serge Lemoyne, painter, Marcelle Ferron, painter, Claude Gauvreau, poet, Raoûl Duguay, poet etc. Student play their works in front of the screen, as in the beginning of silent movies.

Here are a few examples of my work in sound explorations :

Photo 1 : Rolling marbles in sald bowls

Photos 2, 3 and 4: «The Train»,nuts & bolts shaker hitting a bass drum

Photos 5 and 6: «Springcello», spring tightened on a bar, played with a bow, with a super ball or with sticks on a bass drum

Photos 7 and 8 : «Kalimbogue», kalimba mounted on cymbals, played on timpani.

Photos 9 and 10 : «Bell chords», bell tree assembeled in small groups, played dipping in water

Photo 11 : «Bols», japanese bowls, played woth a bow, or struck lying on a timpani or dipped in water.

Photos 12 and 13 : «Dada»,synchronized music boxes played on a timpani.

Photos 14 and 15 : «The Grill», sheet metal with aluminum rods, played with bow, sticks or superball.