[postponed] Music and Math Workshop

​Have you ever wondered why we hear sounds and melodies at all? Or how a simple sound wave can be transformed to have all sorts of textures and tones?

​Waveform Collective, Tri City Synthesizer Society, and Professor Andrew Beltaos are presenting a night of talks, interactive activities, and live demonstrations that will explore the intersection of mathematics and music. This FREE educational workshop includes:

• ​A brief history of electronic music, from the first electronic instrument to synthesizers to modern DAWs

• ​Professor Andrew Beltaos' explanations on beats, frequencies, and other parameters that influence the sounds we hear

• ​Deeper dive into electronic music synthesis, covering different wave shapes, AM & FM, and other concepts widely used in electronic music production

• ​Interactive activities on the synthesizer — solve challenges and create your own sounds

• ​Live synthesizer performance to enjoy and appreciate

• ​Free food (halal, vegan options available)

​Minimal mathematics background is required for this experience.

​September 26th, 5 PM at the Visitor Information Center. Limited capacity.

[ABOUT THE SPEAKERS]

​Andrew Beltaos is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo, currently teaching first year algebra courses for Math students, and recently, calculus for Engineering students. Outside of his work, music is the main activity in his life. His current musical endeavours include creating electronic music under the name Fiascous, playing in the Balinese gamelan ensemble Gamelan Warga Santi at Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo, playing guitar, singing, and writing songs for alternative rock band The Martingales, and playing drums in a handful of local bands.

​Waveform Collective is a music non-profit based in Waterloo, Ontario. Their mission is to build community in local electronic & experimental music, connecting artists and fostering collaborations across disciplines. The organization hosts free monthly meetups, curates concerts highlighting local musicians, and publishes the Sound Kitchen zine series.

The Tri City Synthesizer Society was founded in 2023 by Rob Adlers, Jay Kaufman, Tristan Miller, James Reesor and Andreas Kitzmann to provide a community-oriented base for synthesizer enthusiasts and anyone interested in learning more about this amazing technology. The organization hosts the regular Kitchener Electronic Music Open Mic (KEMOM) and outreach programs such as workshops and synth petting zoos.