音遊びの会
The Otoasobi Project
The Otoasobi Project’ is a group of musicians, music therapists, individuals with learning disabilities and their families who started music-making workshops in 2005 at Kobe University in order to explore new musical expressions. Since then these new musical expressions, which are created through our regular workshops, have been performed as free improvisation, balloon baseball, sumo match, graphic notation, rap music, and original-language songs at more than 30 concerts.
The group consists of 16 people with learning disabilities and their families, about 20 artists from various fields, and music therapists. Individuals with learning disabilities include autism, Down syndrome, Williams syndrome and so on, whose ages range from 8 to 42. They collaborate freely with artists such as free improvisers, pop musicians, butoh dancers, and installation artists. Over 50 guest artists have been involved so far to create new performances. Parents of the people with learning disabilities are also important members who make their own music using cardboard boxes, kitchen utensils, and even hoovers.
