Alon Ilsar is a drummer, composer, instrument designer and researcher. He is the co-designer of a new gestural instrument, the AirSticks. He has been heavily involved in theatre and film as drummer, composer and sound designer. Alon is researching the uses of the AirSticks in the field of health and well being, making music creation more accessible to the broader community. Alon holds a PhD in instrument design through the University of Technology Sydney, under the supervision of Andrew Johnston. He has played the AirSticks at Sydney’s Vivid Festival, on Triple J’s Like a Version and at NYC’s MET Museum.
Alon’s Sounds Unheard Studio Talk series, ‘Reconnecting Movement and Sound’, looks at new ways of creating and performing live electronic music. Over the course of four episodes, Alon shares his experiences as a performer and producer of music. He takes us on the journey that led to the creation of the AirSticks and how that journey is now helping to provide an accessible way for people of all abilities to take part in live music.
In this fourth and final episode “Accessibility”, Alon shows us how the AirSticks have allowed people in different communities to have access to music making. He introduces us to one of his collaborators, Dr Melinda Smith, who uses the AirSticks in a unique way. Alon also asks us to consider how we might contribute to a more accessible music-making community.
To find out more about Dr Melinda Smith: https://melindasmithcreative.com
Thank you for joining us for Alon’s series, ‘Reconnecting Movement and Sound’. For more information on Alon, please visit https://alonilsar.com.
Tags: Accessible Musical Instruments AirSticks Alon Ilsar Electroacoustic Music Electronic Music Instrument Design Sensilab
