ESRC Festival of Social Science, Music for the Eyes: A Workshop on Songs in British Sign Language

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What’s on offer?

In this session Paul Whittaker, OBE will explain how BSL works, encourage participants to think about the actual meaning of a song beyond the lyrics, how it can be translated into BSL and how to include nonverbal elements of the musical text and the emotion contained in a song into a signed performance. The emphasis in this event is on participating. We’ll begin with a few really simple songs with simple signs, then build up to something a bit more complex. Workshop leader, Paul Whittaker, will participate in roundtable and Q&A session chaired by Angela Tarantini, whose Marie Curie fellowship is centred on sign language interpreted music.  The audience will have a chance to ask questions and interact with one of the pioneers of song signing in the UK.  

Learn a new skill, pick up some sign language and, above all, have fun (you don’t have to sing!)

What is it about?

A sought-after and engaging diversity speaker, session leader Paul Whittaker, OBE, has spent over 30 years leading song signing workshops, in addition to being a musician and a BSL performer for many musical shows and concerts across the UK. He is also an assessor of song signing competition, and his aim is to raise the standard of song signing in BSL.

Who is leading the event?

Paul Whittaker, OBE

Angela Tarantini, Research Fellow in the School of Modern Languages at Cardiff University

Monika Hennemann, Reader in Music at Cardiff University

Who is it open to?

It's open to anyone interested in Deafness, Sign language, music and the arts. 

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ESRC Festival of Social Science

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