Connecting the world through song
A$8,881
of $8,500 targetyrs ago
Successful on 10th Jul 2014 at 7:29AM.
My name is Simon Jankelson and I founded The Human Sound Project. While the project has a global agenda, it stems from a series of personal experiences which allowed me to first handedly experience the transformative power of music. At the age of 16, leading a self-destructive path, skipping school and several confrontations with the law, I came upon music as a tool, allowing me to express myself in a positive way, creating a community that I so longed for. This transformative experience led me on a path to explore the interaction between community and music and the transformative nature of sound. I founded an internationally acclaimed band, facilitated large african drumming workshops and became a partner in a digital creative agency, creating an award winning (TED, SxSW, AIMIA) interactive sound art installation. Running through these explorations was a deep desire to make music creation an accessible tool for anyone to use to connect.
in 2012, I spent two years leading experimental sound making workshops in N.Y.C., building on my skills as a technician, professional musician and facilitator to realize a dream of enabling anyone, no matter their cultural background or musical skill level, to come together and create new songs. Many diverse groups were brought together, bizarre methods were tried and new songs were created. And from these series of experiments, The Human Sound Project and its methodology for group song making was born.
Watch how 70 people create a song together in three hours:
From June 18, I will be taking the project around the world, creating songs with groups of multi-cultural young people in five cultural melting pots: Cape Town, Jerusalem, Berlin, New York and Sydney in each site bringing together groups of multi-cultural young people through the creation of new songs. These are sites of great cultural diversity and historical trauma; sites that contain stories and songs that are deeply personal to me and instantly recognisable to people of our time.
Among these: a group from Cronulla singing with a group of Lebanese Muslim students from Granville in Sydney; South African youth ambassadors from different religions and socio-economic backgrounds in Cape Town; and Israeli and Palestinian groups coming together to create songs in Jerusalem.
The songs and behind the scenes footage, including the personal stories of the young people involved, will be archived and presented as an interactive web documentary. The music created in the 5 continents over 6 months with thousands of different young people, will also be compiled into a downloadable e-album, available to donors of the project.
in 2012, I spent two years leading experimental sound making workshops in N.Y.C., building on my skills as a technician, professional musician and facilitator to realize a dream of enabling anyone, no matter their cultural background or musical skill level, to come together and create new songs. Many diverse groups were brought together, bizarre methods were tried and new songs were created. And from these series of experiments, The Human Sound Project and its methodology for group song making was born.
Watch how 70 people create a song together in three hours:
Now, The Human Sound Project is set to launch...
From June 18, I will be taking the project around the world, creating songs with groups of multi-cultural young people in five cultural melting pots: Cape Town, Jerusalem, Berlin, New York and Sydney in each site bringing together groups of multi-cultural young people through the creation of new songs. These are sites of great cultural diversity and historical trauma; sites that contain stories and songs that are deeply personal to me and instantly recognisable to people of our time.Among these: a group from Cronulla singing with a group of Lebanese Muslim students from Granville in Sydney; South African youth ambassadors from different religions and socio-economic backgrounds in Cape Town; and Israeli and Palestinian groups coming together to create songs in Jerusalem.
The songs and behind the scenes footage, including the personal stories of the young people involved, will be archived and presented as an interactive web documentary. The music created in the 5 continents over 6 months with thousands of different young people, will also be compiled into a downloadable e-album, available to donors of the project.
In a nutshell: The Human Sound Project
Yesterday, a group of people from across Cape Town's socio-economic divides sang and danced together in the Langa Township. There was an incredible feeling in the room - all of us together, singing, no matter where we were from. I feel so appreciative to be here doing this work and it's thanks to many of you for helping to make this happen.
PLEASE READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND ITS CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN.
In an increasingly divided world, singing and creating music together could be one of our most powerful tools to connect us and inspire dialogue between groups. The Human Sound Project answers this global call for connectivity, by empowering people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and musical abilities to come together and create new songs inspired by their stories.
Over six months, the project will work with several NGOs* to bring together groups of multi-cultural young people in five different cultural hot spots to create new songs: Cape Town, East and West Jerusalem, Berlin, New York and Sydney.
The goal of this project is to inspire happiness and connection both between the participants of the song-making events and hopefully in you, the global audience, who will be touched by their music; Our goal is to foster a global village through song.
The songs and behind the scenes footage, including the personal stories of the young people involved, will be archived and presented as an interactive web documentary. The music created in the 5 continents over 6 months with thousands of different young people, will also be compiled into a downloadable e-album, available to donors of the project.
Help connect the world through song by supporting The Human Sound Project - click here to contribute
PLEASE READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND ITS CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN.
In an increasingly divided world, singing and creating music together could be one of our most powerful tools to connect us and inspire dialogue between groups. The Human Sound Project answers this global call for connectivity, by empowering people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and musical abilities to come together and create new songs inspired by their stories.
Over six months, the project will work with several NGOs* to bring together groups of multi-cultural young people in five different cultural hot spots to create new songs: Cape Town, East and West Jerusalem, Berlin, New York and Sydney.
The goal of this project is to inspire happiness and connection both between the participants of the song-making events and hopefully in you, the global audience, who will be touched by their music; Our goal is to foster a global village through song.
The songs and behind the scenes footage, including the personal stories of the young people involved, will be archived and presented as an interactive web documentary. The music created in the 5 continents over 6 months with thousands of different young people, will also be compiled into a downloadable e-album, available to donors of the project.
Help connect the world through song by supporting The Human Sound Project - click here to contribute
How The Funds Will Be Used
Your financial support will help make this global music project possible. The money raised in this crowdfunding campaign will help pay for necessary audio equipment, living costs and the right expertise on the ground.
Audio Equipment:
$500 - An iPad to wirelessly control the recording, playback and looping of sounds in these events
$1200 - A digital DSLR video camera for documenting the expedition with video and photographs
$1800 - Rental for speakers for events
$300 - High quality condenser microphone
The right expertise on the ground:
Additional music facilitators to help me run groups that are larger than 30 people - in many cases the groups will consist of 100s of people in which case I will need to hire other music facilitators: $2000
Living Costs
$400 - Money for extra luggage allowance
$500 - Health and Travel insurance
$200 – Equipment Insurance
$600 - Accomodation
$500 - Travel costs: Cabs, buses, trains
$350 - Extra luggage costs for audio equipment -
$150 - Mobile phone communications
Audio Equipment:
$500 - An iPad to wirelessly control the recording, playback and looping of sounds in these events
$1200 - A digital DSLR video camera for documenting the expedition with video and photographs
$1800 - Rental for speakers for events
$300 - High quality condenser microphone
The right expertise on the ground:
Additional music facilitators to help me run groups that are larger than 30 people - in many cases the groups will consist of 100s of people in which case I will need to hire other music facilitators: $2000
Living Costs
$400 - Money for extra luggage allowance
$500 - Health and Travel insurance
$200 – Equipment Insurance
$600 - Accomodation
$500 - Travel costs: Cabs, buses, trains
$350 - Extra luggage costs for audio equipment -
$150 - Mobile phone communications
The Challenges
Challenge - Holding space for groups at odds with eachother:
Bringing together groups many of whom rarely see eye to eye will be a real challenge. To tackle this, I will endeavour to create a non reactive, non-judgemental safe space where participants feel free to express their stories and sounds. There are a number of activities to set up this kind of space which I have been researching. I will also be teaming up with local facilitators in each city. For example in East and West Jerusalem I am working with a bi-lingual (Arabic and Hebrew) facilitator who has had a lot of experience working and facilitation with Palestinian and Israeli youth.
* Challenge - Cultural sensitivity:
In a many cases along this journey, I will be the outsider. When dealing with sensitivities, such as activities that involve singing, movement and touch, if the facilitator is not aware of local customs and mores, it could get the project into trouble.
This is why, in each city, the project is engaging with NGOs who will be bringing the groups together. Confirmed NGOs so far include:
Together For Humanity (Sydney), Interfaith Intercultural Twinning and Exchange Reunion Programme (Cape Town), LifeChoices (Cape Town), Interfaith The Jerusalem Youth Chorus (Jerusalem), MusicalIQ (NYC). Its important in this regard that the project as briefed as well as possible by the NGOs it engages with. This involves finding out the demographics, cultural sensitivities and back story of the groups involved.
Challenge - Safety:
The project will be visiting some sites that are known to be fairly dangerous places. In these cases, I will be sure to ask for local guides to show the project around. Also part of this crowdfunding campaign is to ensure I have enough funds for travel insurance should anything go wrong.
Bringing together groups many of whom rarely see eye to eye will be a real challenge. To tackle this, I will endeavour to create a non reactive, non-judgemental safe space where participants feel free to express their stories and sounds. There are a number of activities to set up this kind of space which I have been researching. I will also be teaming up with local facilitators in each city. For example in East and West Jerusalem I am working with a bi-lingual (Arabic and Hebrew) facilitator who has had a lot of experience working and facilitation with Palestinian and Israeli youth.
* Challenge - Cultural sensitivity:
In a many cases along this journey, I will be the outsider. When dealing with sensitivities, such as activities that involve singing, movement and touch, if the facilitator is not aware of local customs and mores, it could get the project into trouble.
This is why, in each city, the project is engaging with NGOs who will be bringing the groups together. Confirmed NGOs so far include:
Together For Humanity (Sydney), Interfaith Intercultural Twinning and Exchange Reunion Programme (Cape Town), LifeChoices (Cape Town), Interfaith The Jerusalem Youth Chorus (Jerusalem), MusicalIQ (NYC). Its important in this regard that the project as briefed as well as possible by the NGOs it engages with. This involves finding out the demographics, cultural sensitivities and back story of the groups involved.
Challenge - Safety:
The project will be visiting some sites that are known to be fairly dangerous places. In these cases, I will be sure to ask for local guides to show the project around. Also part of this crowdfunding campaign is to ensure I have enough funds for travel insurance should anything go wrong.
A personal thank you email
2 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 14
- Digital download of e-album (includes songs, lyrics and videos produced on The Human Sound Project tour) - A personal thank you email
2 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 14
- Digital download of e-album (includes songs, lyrics and videos produced on The Human Sound Project tour) - Name credited on website and e-album page - A personal thank you email
8 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 14
- Access to a password protected page online where you can upload a photo of your choosing and a one line response to the question "what does music mean to you?" - Your photos and lines will be used to create an inspirational new song and accompanying video clip. - Digital download of e-album (includes songs, lyrics and videos produced on The Human Sound Project tour) - Name credited on website and e-album page - A personal thank you email
12 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 14
Send me an email with moment from your life. I create a song out of my "human sounds" in response to your moment and send it back to you + Name credited on website and e-album page donors list, a personal thank you email, access to link to download of e-album (includes songs, lyrics and videos produced on The Human Sound Project tour)
6 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 14
- Either personal one on one, or if I am not in your city, then one on one Skype session, where you tell me a story from your life. We create a song out of our "human sounds" in response to your story and I will mix it and send it back to you. - Digital download of e-album (includes songs, lyrics and videos produced on The Human Sound Project tour) - Name credited on website and e-album page - A personal thank you email
2 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 14
- I personally visit any group of people that you help put together in one of the cities I visit and run a full human sound event with your group. Your song will be mixed and sent back with an accompanying video - Digital download of e-album (includes songs, lyrics and videos produced on The Human Sound Project tour) - Name credited on website and e-album page - A personal thank you email
1 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 14