Description

This workshop focuses on emerging music technologies designed to promote accessibility and inclusion for the Deaf community. It will feature researchers presenting new technologies, particularly highlighting the potential of haptics in music. Additionally, artists from the Deaf community will share their experiences with multisensory musical technologies. After the presentations, the researchers will showcase some demos. This will be followed by a roundtable discussion, moderated by Isabelle Cossette and Marcelo Wanderley.

Note: This event will be conducted in both English and American Sign Language (ASL).

Registration

We are inviting participants from the McGill community, especially those interested in music technology, haptics, and accessibility. Please use this form to register for the event.

Workshop schedule

1:00 PM – 2:15 PM: Presentations from music technology researchers, Deaf and Deaf-related artists (8 minutes each) - Hodan Youssouf, Cai Glover, Raphaël Léveillé, Lloyd May, Oren Ronen, and Erivan Duarte.

2:15 PM – 2:30 PM:  Coffee-break.

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM: Demos from researchers - Lloyd May, Oren Ronen, and Erivan Duarte.

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM: Round table discussion – Exploring the potential of music technology to promote inclusion for Deaf individuals.

Biographies

Hodan Youssouf is a Deaf performer, LSQ interpreter, anti-oppression consultant, and coach. A poet and actress, she’s participated in projects across Deaf and hearing communities. She portrayed Elon Musk in "After Faust" (2023) and co-founded the collective SURVIVANCE. She also co-created the contemporary dance duo Those Roots Within, exploring minority identities and immigration.

Cai Glover has been transfixed in an on-going and endless discovery of dance since he was 10 years old. Cai has been developing expression in poetry and in sign language in search of an embodied expression of poetics. As a hard of hearing artist, hearing differently has become a driving force of his artistry and originality as a mover, interpreter and choreographer.

Raphaël Léveillé is a multidisciplinary artist, primarily active as a singer-songwriter in the Francophone underground scene. He also accompanies several musical projects as a guitarist and a drummer and works on album production. Growing up with deaf parents, Raphaël has always been deeply interested in making music accessible to the deaf community, and especially to his parents. His artistic approach is fueled by a desire to explore different mediums while bridging the gap between sound and silence.

Lloyd May (he/him, b. 1995) is a South African musician, game designer, and researcher currently at Stanford University's CCRMA. His research focuses on highlighting the power and importance of D/deaf and Disabled Joy in the creation and experience of music. Lloyd's current research focuses include extending the capabilities of creative closed-captioning, making haptic art creation more accessible, and working with cochlear implant users to create a more personalized music listening experience. 

Oren Ronen is a Music Technology master's student specializing in the integration of haptic feedback technology into digital musical instruments. With a background in audio programming and embedded systems, Oren explores ways to enhance the tactile experience of musicians interacting with digital interfaces. His research aims to bridge the gap between traditional and electronic instruments.

Erivan Duarte is a PhD student in music education/technology at McGill University with a diverse background in performance, physics, and computer engineering. His research focuses on innovation and inclusion of D/deaf people in music making. Erivan has more than ten years of experience teaching music, including designing technology tools for music education.