Since 2004 I've presented dozens of hands-on workshops in Hardware Hacking all over the world. Assuming no technical background whatsoever, these workshops guide the participants through a series of sound-producing electronic construction projects, from making simple contact microphones, through "bending" toys, to making oscillators and other circuits from scratch. The curriculum is drawn from my book, Handmade Electronic Music -- The Art of Hardware Hacking. We usually end with a public performance/installation by the participants.
The workshop can be as short as an hour, or run as long as five 8-hour days. The topics covered include:
I bring most of the electronic parts needed for the projects. In addition, individual participants and the venue are expected to provide some materials and facilities (click here to see the list.)
Click here to view a compilation of video clips from past workshops.
Click here to look at workshop photos on my Flickr site.
Here are two blogs from my workshop at STEIM in Amsterdam in April, 2009:
Contact me if you are interested in hosting such a workshop: ncollins@saic.edu.