Music and/as Process

Tag: conference

  • Conference 2025

    Call for Proposals

    Click here for a PDF version of this information.

    Music and/as process CfP image with a brick background

    Music and/as Process RMA Study Group Annual Conference

    The RMA Study Group Music and/as Process is pleased to announce the Call for Proposals as part of their twelfth annual conference. This will take place on Friday November 7th at Goldsmiths, University of London and Saturday November 8th at Edinburgh Napier University.

    For this conference we return to our core purpose. Music and/as Process Study Group takes its impulse from Steve Reich’s 1968 essay ‘Music as a Gradual Process.’ We explore issues related to and arising from processes in music which determine sound-to-sound detail and overarching form simultaneously. In particular, music that performs process. Music in which processes are audible, perceptible, or otherwise concurrent with the music during its performance. There is no overriding theme for this conference; delegates are invited to present either practice research (i.e. a performance, performance paper, listening session, screening, etc.), a paper, or a workshop (see details below). Our main interest is for researchers to meet, share work and findings, and to engage in discussion and debate.

    Delegates will attend one or the other of these two days which will share the same theme and explore the same ideas.

    Areas of interest include but are not limited to:

    •Composition

    •Improvisation

    •Performance practice

    •Musicology of process

    •Any further musical activity in which process plays a main part

    The Study Group also has a key interest in practice-led research and seeks to present such work on an equal footing as traditional papers at each event.

    There will be a performance at 6pm on Friday November 7th at Goldsmiths by Noisy Women. This will be preceded by a short presentation and discussion focusing on the inclusive processes which are central to their practice. Noisy Women were awarded a ‘Support Structures for Support Structures’ Grant and Fellowship by The Serpentine Gallery in 2024 in recognition of their work. More information here.

    Submissions may be in any of the following formats*.

    Paper proposals:

    Papers must be no longer than 20 minutes, with a Q&A of 5 to 10 minutes in addition (30 minutes in total).

    Workshop proposals:

    Workshop proposals can include completed works and works in progress. These must be realisable by conference delegates or organised by the presenters themselves. Workshops must be no longer than 30 minutes.

    Performance/installation proposals:

    Proposals for performances, screenings or installations must be technically achievable. Our technical facilities at Goldsmiths are limited to: PA (2 speakers), lecturers lectern, microphones, and a baby-grand piano (no preparation possible). Facilities at Napier include quadraphonic sound, microphones, and a grand piano. Any additional tech should be provided by the delegate or requested in the submission form, in which case we will do our best to accommodate reasonable requests.

    Delegates are responsible for the technical aspects of their own presentations. Pieces involving performers will be realised by conference delegates or organised by the presenters themselves. Open and fixed duration works will be considered.

    The Study Group is unable to guarantee the availability of a specific instrumentation or number of performers. Complicated electronic set-ups may also be unfeasible due to logistics.

    *We will consider other formats which should be no longer than 45 minutes. Delegates may choose which institution they wish to submit their proposal to based on proximity to each venue. While delegates may only present on one day, please state which venue works best, if both, then write ‘Both venues’. Participation must be in person.

    Proposals must include:

    ●Name and email address

    ●A short biography (50 words)

    ●A short proposal/description (250 words)

    ●Venue you can present at

    ●Any additional information such as instrumentation, resources and

    tech requirements for performance and installations

    ●Where submissions include audio or video (general tech spec), please provide a link rather than an attachment

    Enquiries: musicandasprocess@gmail.com

    All submissions must be made via the application form available here

    Deadline for submissions: Sunday 28th September 2025, 23:59 (UTC)

    The Study Group aims to communicate its decision for all submissions by Monday 6th October.

    The conference will be free of charge to attend but, with regret, the Study Group is unable to provide any form of financial assistance.

    RMA Music and/as Process Study Group Steering Committee

    Steve Gisby, Independent Researcher

    John Hails, Edinburgh Napier University

    Bea Hebron, City St George’s, University of London

    Emma Lloyd, Independent Researcher

    Maureen Wolloshin, Independent Researcher

    Alistair Zaldua, Goldsmiths, University of London

    Website: https://musicandasprocess.org

  • Call For Presentations: 2017 Conference

    Call For Presentations: 2017 Conference

    RMA Music and/as Process Study Group
    Fifth annual conference in association with the
    Society of Minimalist Music
    20 May 2017
    University of Wolverhampton Performance Hub, Walsall Campus

    With the support of CCHIP: Centre for Creativity, History and Identity in Performance and the Faculty of Arts at the University of Wolverhampton.

    The keynote speaker for the conference will be Jennie Gottschalk, author of the recently acclaimed Bloomsbury publication Experimental Music since 1970. An evening concert given by Paul Cassidy will include a solo performance of Steve Reich’s Piano Phase for two pianos.

    Call for Presentations

    We welcome proposals for contributions in the following formats:

    • Paper (20 minutes + 10 minutes questions)
    • Lecture Recital (30 minutes)
    • Participatory lecture/workshop (30 minutes)

    The theme of the conference is Patterns. Whilst the Music and/as Process Study Group has previously been aimed towards the field of music, the call remains open to other disciplines within the arts and beyond who are drawn towards an association with the theme.

    Particular themes covered might include:

    • Patterns, sequences, orderings, in the performance/interpretation/realisation/ actualisation of a concept
    • Patterns in performance interaction
    • Patterns in the construction of new music/design/creative work
    • Patterns in artistic social structures, groupings
    • Behavioural patterns in performance or creative design

    Proposals should include all of the details of the proposed contribution:

    • the name(s) of presenter(s)
    • title of paper/lecture-recital/workshop
    • 200-word abstract
    • [for participatory workshops only] description of the format of the workshop
    • A full list of any technical requirements and other resources.

    Please send your proposals by email to Richard Glover: Richard.Glover@wlv.ac.uk Deadline for proposals: 20 March 2017
    Notification of successful presentations can be expected in late March 2017.

    In your proposal please clearly indicate all of the presenters, including any performers if you do not intend to perform your own work. Unfortunately, the study group is not able to provide any financial assistance to attend the conference, or to support the creation or performance of works at the conference. All presenters and delegates will be required to pay the conference registration fee, but this will be kept as low as possible.