Beatbox Laboratory

Welcome to the beatbox laboratory! Might science help you beatbox better? Find out in a series of live experiments on battling beatboxers. We’ll also be screening two short films featuring scientific investigations on willing beatboxing volunteers. Hone your own skills in beatbox workshops before putting yourself forward on stage…How do you perform under pressure?

Firstly, on film, scientist David Howard explains what exactly beatboxers are doing when performing and conducts an analysis on the different sounds beatboxers MCLD and Vid Warren produce. Ear, nose and throat specialists John Rubin and Ruth Epstein conduct a nasal endoscopy on beatboxer MCLD. Hear about MCLD's experience and see inside his vocal cords on the big screen.

Performance psychologist Terry Clark and scientist Evan Morgan then conduct a live experiment on our battling beatbox volunteers. Measuring their heart rate, breathing rate and skin conductivity, Evan will be able to show us signs of stress. How would you minimise these to enhance performance? Terry gives us the lowdown on managing performance stress.

You’ll then have the chance to perfect your own technique in half hour workshops with beatboxing experts before stepping up to the stage yourselves, hooked up to stress monitoring equipment.

We wrap up with improvised performances, and hope you enjoy the beatbox laboratory experience…

This event is part of the International Beatboxing Convention at the Southbank Centre, 18–20 April.

Event organised by:
The Science Museum

Speakers

Terry Clark, Royal College of Music
Evan Morgan, Imperial College

Beatboxers

Addy P
MCLD
Shlomo
Vid Warren
Facilitator: Testament

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