The Sharjah Art Foundation’s Music and Sound Club is bringing musicians, sound artists, and music enthusiasts together for a new programme focused on experimentation, shared learning, and community building.
Running from 20 September to 26 November 2026 at the Photography Gallery in Al Manakh, Sharjah, the programme will give adults interested in music and sonic arts the chance to explore new ideas through hands-on workshops and informal meetup sessions.
The programme will take place through a combination of bi-weekly workshops and fortnightly meetups, built around two main areas of exploration: using tape and cassette as tools for composition and instrumentation, and looking at the growing relationship between artificial intelligence and new music technologies.
The meetup sessions will give participants time to work independently, continue developing ideas introduced during the workshops or bring their own projects to the group. They will also provide an opportunity to share work and exchange ideas with other participants.
Tape Loop Manipulation
20 September 2026 | 4:00–5:30 pm
The programme opens with a workshop exploring the creative possibilities of cassette tape.
Participants will learn how to open a cassette tape, splice it, and reconnect it to create an endless loop. The session will then explore how this hands-on analogue process can be applied to sound design and music composition.
AI and Music Technology
4 and 18 October 2026 | 4:00–5:30 pm
This two-part workshop will introduce participants to accessible artificial intelligence tools and emerging technologies for musicians and sound artists.
The sessions will explore contemporary software environments and ways to incorporate technology into creative workflows and approaches to composition.
Contextualising Tape Loops and Music Technology
8 November 2026 | 4:00–5:30 pm
Bringing the programme’s analogue and digital strands together, this session will encourage participants to experiment with combining vintage recording media and modern software.
The focus will be on creating hybrid musical works by bringing tape-loop techniques into conversation with contemporary music technology.
Regular Meetups and Final Performances
The Music and Sound Club’s fortnightly meetup sessions are scheduled for 24 September, 8 and 22 October, and 12 and 26 November, running from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.
The programme will wrap up with participant performances on 22 November from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, giving members the opportunity to present work developed during the programme.
The Music and Sound Club is open to all adults interested in music and sonic arts, whether they are looking to experiment with new techniques, develop an existing project, or simply connect with others working across sound and music.
