A survey of the night sky from our vantage point on Earth is composed of white blips, but stars exist in many hues, and the music universe is a parallel. K-12 students are hardly exposed to the high-level experimental music and performance art; they are rarely afforded access to gear or practitioners of such art. Stars of Different Hues project puts these opportunities into the hands of students, while designed for students in my home state of Florida, has expanded to include university students across the United States.
The primary goals for this project are to broaden the exposure of K-12 students to avant-garde music and by so doing increase their perspectives of the world around them. By presenting these unique performance art pieces for the students in context (how did I achieve that sound) and without initial pretence (allowing the students to first experience the piece, depending on their age writing or drawing their first impressions of the work as they listen or watch, and then giving them the space to share their initial impressions if they wish with their peers) before I explain to them what the piece means to me and how major elements in the composition feel conceptually tied to my expression of the theme of the work. On the university level, the fundamental focus is on artistic entrepreneurship, and how to promote your individual artistic vision without compromising your voice by creating a self-sustaining independent career.
Workshop Instrument List
Source Audio LLC – Hot Hand USB
Schoenhut Piano Company – Toy Pianos
Critter & Guitari – Organelle
Critter & Guitari // Third Man Records – Septavox
Make Noise – 0-Coast Synthesizer
MOOG – Mother 32 Semi-Modular Synthesizer
MOOG – Etherwave Plus Theremin
Aquasonic – Waterphone
KORG – Volca Kick
Nintendo – Wiimotes
Genki Instruments – Wave
Workshop Software List
Cycling 74 – Max 8
Ableton Live
PureData
OSCulator
SuperCollider
Native Instruments – Massive
Workshop Component Parts List
Dayton Audio DAEX30HESF-4 High Efficiency Steered Flux Exciter with Shielding 30mm 40W 4 Ohm
Lepai LP-2020TI Digital Hi-Fi Audio Mini Class D Stereo Amplifier
Eminence 6-1/2″ Guitar Speaker 20W 4 Ohm
Kinter MA-170 2-Channel Mini Amplifier Bass Treble RCA In 2 x 18W
Dayton Audio DAEX32QMB-4 Quad Feet Mega Bass 32mm Exciter 40W 4 Ohm
Art majors at the University of Rhode Island collaborating on an improvisatory piece with electronics. 
An excited university student, demonstrates how the body can be a synthesizer with the use of a Source Audio Hot Hand Wireless MIDI Controller to fellow classmates. 
Little hands on a Critter & Guitari Septavox. 
Little hands on a MOOG Mother 32. 
Students working together to create a cohesive improvised piece using electronics and toy piano. 
Young student wielding The Ring of Power, also known as a Source Audio Hot Hand Wireless MIDI Controller. 
Elementary student bows a waterphone in front of classmates. 
Elementary student trying a waterphone.
Upcoming Workshops & Residencies
August 23, 2019 – North Shore Elementary with Baker-Hess Duo (Saint Petersburg, FL)
November 12, 2019 – Osceola County School for the Arts (Kissimmee, FL)
December 5, 2019 – Sandpiper Elementary School (Sunrise, FL)
December 6, 2019 – South Broward High School (Hollywood, FL)
February 14, 2020 – Lealman Innovation Academy (Saint Petersburg, FL)
March 2-6, 2020 – Artist Residency with Premiere & Recording (Naples, FL)
Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
THE CREATIVES
THE CREATIVES is an educational resource created for STARS OF DIFFERENT HUES, an outreach project started by new renaissance artist Elizabeth A. Baker, to make the tools and practitioners of experimental music and performance art accessible to school aged youth in the State of Florida.
These interviews by living artists each come with a creative challenge prompt for students and are short enough to be used within the classroom for K-12 students.
The Honourable Elizabeth A. Baker 