Musical Projects of Malcolm Smith


Home / Music / Projects


Email:
[ Email: info  AT  thesmith  DOT  org  DOT  uk ]

Website: www.thesmith.org.uk
Phone: 01234 743119

EDUCATION

A composer and percussionist, I studied Electronic Music at The University of Hertfordshire with Ian Dearden and Javier Alvarez, and studied African Drumming with David Oladunni and many other master drummers. My recent trip to Senegal allowed intensive study with Jean-Marie Keita and Malo Sonko.

EXPERIENCE

Began compositional experiments while still at school, using early home computers and keyboards with the synth band ERA. A fascination for electronic sounds led to some house music tracks recorded in various professional studios with the band Elevator Man between 1989 and 1992.

Performed and recorded with many student groups at University, before forming The Canopus Percussion Ensemble (1994...1996). Joined the Watford Percussion Project in 1996 under South African band-leader Molefe Pheto. Also involved with music therapy projects and sound engineering for the University Big Band. Designed an Additive Synthesis system for University compositions and performance. Performed as percussionist for Tabula Rasa Dance Company in Oxford and St. Albans Abbey. Performed as DJ Spock with Karmatosed sound system at many venues.

Attended the 1999 Dartington International Summer School, as percussionist for David Bedford's PRS Total Eclipse Project, and sang in the choir under Ivor Bolton. Awarded a bursary from the Holst Foundation to visit the 1999 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Sponsored by the William Glock Foundation to study composition and percussion at Dartington 2000 with Edward Dudley Hughes and Ensemble Bash; also sang Haydn's Creation under Robert Tear. In 2001 studied Ghanaian drum music of the Ashanti court with Johnson Kwadzo Kemeh, sang with Scott Stroman's African Gospel Choir, attended Rolf Hind's piano masterclass, and played percussion with a jazz quintet.

I hold a regular drum circle in Hertfordshire, and give private and group drumming tuition in schools and businesses. I play Tibetan singing bowls and percussion with The Naked Truth, and dun duns with Vitae Drum Circle, as well as accompanying African, Indian, Tai Chi & Butoh dance workshops and theatre productions. The nice people at BBC Training have made several short films featuring me playing music and discussing my life at Michael's Folly (these have not been broadcast, but I was interviewed on BBC1's Countryfile programme). If you want to be their next subject, can be free on a Tuesday and a Thursday, and live within half an hour of Elstree, Hertfordshire, then contact stephen.dinsdale_AT_bbc.co.uk (where _AT_ = @).

I am currently in the (long) process of setting up my home studio and ultimately a music production company.

FUTURE PERFORMANCES

RECENT PERFORMANCES

SOLO COMPOSITIONS

COMPLETED WORKS

WORKS IN PROGRESS

Scores and recordings will eventually be available on request once I get my music computer fully operational.
[This page is longing for the day when scores and audio samples will be added...]


© copyright Malcolm Smith 2002-02-07 - last updated 2008-10-28