Day 10 - Amsterdam - STEIM

Here we are in Amsterdam...finally. Everyone is excited to be here for one reason or another and I'm just going to leave it at that. Today we're specifically focused on an institution called STEIM, who has been around for 42 years and steadily producing experimental electronic music, most of which is produced from a large variety of hand-fashioned electronic instruments. It's really an incredible place and if you've ever experienced improvised electronic music, you'll understand it's importance amongst the movement and community dedicated to that aspect of the arts.

Starting our day long activities with a brief history and informational session provided by the director of STEIM, Dick Rijken. Providing us with insight into the rich history of STEIM, which is actually the oldest institution of it's kind anywhere in the world, Mr. Rijken provided insight from the humble beginning and formation by visionary Michel Waisvisz to current projects and interactions with artists and institutions alike worldwide.

STEIM provides insight and technical resources to interested parties and their facilities are nothing short of amazing. They have several sound recording studios and performance spaces as well as a basement full of historical instruments created on sight that visitors can tinker with and attempt to create their own compositions. While it might sound easier, in practice it is MUCH harder that it seems. Perhaps the most important lesson of the day was provided by Artistic Director Takuro Mizuta Lippit, who enlighten us on all things related to STEIM's creative endeavors...of which the most critical is that if you create any kind of electronic instrument, you've got to figure out how to play it. He's absolutely right actually, because I (and most of us) didn't even create our own instrument and we mostly had trouble (but tons of fun) "playing" the ones on hand in the basement lab.

Click HERE to hear the first electronic music created by Kid Baltan & Tom Dissevelt. You can learn a little more about the history of this interesting song at the site as well.

STEIM lecture and presentations

DJ Sniff enlightens us on electronic music

Recording studio at STEIM