THE PLAYGROUND RESIDENCE
How can non-formal learning programs for professional musicians stimulate peer interaction?
A practice based qualitive descriptive research in a residency program
FIRST LAYER >> FIRST IMPRESSION
The Playground Residence started as an attempt to provide a safe space for music professionals. A place to create, discuss, overthink music, business ideas and more abstract concept. And above all a place to enjoy being with peers. The Playground Residence focuses on non-formal learning amongst professionals in the music industry.
And that turned into one giant experiment in Berlin, summer 2022. During the first edition of The Playground Residence several interviews, focusgroups, and jam sessions where contducted. And there's my autoethnographic search.
And that turned into a bigger Playground Residence with more locations and participants in 2023 and 2024. With support from Pop in Limburg, Music Hub Brabant, De Basis Nijmegen, Poppunt Overijssel, Poppunt Drenthe, BRUT, No Man's Land - De Coöperatie, Eurosonic-Noorderslag, Sound Service Europe GmbH and more to follow. First stop: Eurosonic-Noorderslag (ESNS) on January 21st, 12.15 pm in Forum, Groningen.
Playgar Foundation (Stichting Playgar)
The Playgar Foundation, established in 2022, provides development time and space for professionals in music. Supported by various Dutch music organizations such as Pop in Limburg, Music Hub Brabant, Poppunt Overijssel, De Basis Nijmegen, Poppunt Drenthe, De Coöperatie - No Man's Land, and Eurosonic-Noorderslag, the foundation offers advice, makes venues available, and scouts and selects musicians for its valuable projects.
The foundation's mission is to create learning networks for music professionals, enabling them to take new developmental steps inspired by their peers. The focus is on the musician, who often has a diverse professional practice as a creator, organizer, educator, or technician. Thus, we refer to them as music professionals. Our vision is that by continually renewing themselves artistically, substantively, and business-wise, and by taking the time to come together and conduct research, these professionals will create and strengthen a vibrant music industry. The Playgar Foundation aims to broaden and deepen the perspectives of music professionals and commit to community building.
To achieve our goals, we are working on two projects. Musician and teacher Thijs Schrijnemakers serves as the project leader for these initiatives.
**The Playground Residence** involves developing a residency platform specifically for the music sector. We are organizing a series of residencies throughout the year in appealing European cities, starting in the Netherlands and Germany. These are working trips and home bases for music professionals, focusing on process and development steps without the pressure of quantitative results. A residency invites creative makers to temporarily occupy a living and working space separate from their familiar environment, providing an opportunity to conduct research, create new work, or explore a new environment, culture, and people.
We are also conducting practice-based research related to informal and non-formal learning and knowledge transfer in the music sector. We aim to gain insight into the characteristics of learning networks in the music industry. Within the music sector, professionals learn from each other differently than in other art disciplines or commercial sectors. Alongside the residency, we are exploring current and new forms of learning and knowledge transfer. This project is funded from 2022 to 2024 by platform ACCT and Fontys FHK Teacher Research (Fontys University of Applied Sciences).
Objectives of The Playground Residence
The Playground Residence aims to improve the quality and sustainability of music professionals' careers. By providing development time and space, the project stimulates connection within the music sector and boosts the creativity of music professionals. In the music sector, residencies are still relatively unknown, whereas in visual arts and classical music, they are common for achieving innovative working methods and artistic results. Music often prioritizes efficiency and quick results, but creating good music requires time. Music professionals also need to connect with like-minded individuals without immediate assignments. The Playground Residence creates a fertile environment for development and growth, allowing the seeds of creativity to flourish without immediate expectations.
Community building and non-formal learning
Subtitel: Residencies in pop music
Time & location: Eurosonic-Noorderslag 2023, Saturday January 21st, 12.15pm, Forum Groningen
Residencies have been a great way for artists to contemplate and regenerate. In the pop music industry this phenomenon is practically new. For this panel we invite music industry professionals (musicians, producers, technicians, managers) who want to share their values and ideas with peers. To gather insights in how to build the ideal residency program in popular music. Launch of The Playground Residence.
Moderator:
- Thijs Schrijnemakers (The Playground Residence, Orgel Vreten)
Panel:
- Marie Fol (president On The Move)
- Arriën Molema (voorzitter BAM)
- Merel Koman (Blackbird)
- Maike Fleuren (kwartiermaker De Basis)
SECOND LAYER >> FUNDAMENT AND BUILDING BLOCKS
The fundament and building blocks on which The Playground Residence is constructed. And how residents react to them.
Building on a foundation, containing these three elements:
Fundament 1: Passion, the burning urge to pass on music
Musicians believe that this passion should not be expressed literally in a transference situation. Letting this feeling shine through in the complete act should take no effort. The musician must be intrinsically motivated to want to convey something. He chooses substantively interesting material with plenty of practical examples. Enthusiasm is an important key word. The musician communicates in different ways. Physically, in collaborative situations, during interplay with colleagues, during contact with a live audience. But also digitally through artistic expressions (video clips, artwork, text), through social media or through tutorial videos. The credo is: start from passion, from enthusiasm, the musician trusts himself and fellow musicians.
Fundament 2: Spark creativity
A musician's job is to indulge curiosity. This requires an open attitude. The musician is himself an appealing example, but puts himself in second place. The musician starts from an inner fire, a passion, and thus takes like-minded people into his world of experience. Therefore, a transfer situation always starts with music or the wonder of music.
Fundament 3: Practice (learning), also a social matter!
Soaking together in pop music is interesting on several levels. Pop music is generally a multidisciplinary work environment. Take playing in a band as an example. It is an ecosystem in which everyone must be able to contribute to the overall picture, an ecosystem in which mutual trust is the glue.
The Audio Bay
Hear how our residents experience The Playground Residence. Enjoy ten mini interviews in this small audio bay. In dutch.
THIRD LAYER >> WHERE DO THESE IDEAS COME FROM?
The groundwork for The Playground Residence was laid in 2019, with a thesis I wrote for my Master's of Education in Arts, titled 'Take It To The Bridge'. All source material is in Dutch. There's an abstract available in English, as well as a detailed desciption of the coding process.
Abstract - Take It To The Bridge (2019)
The average Dutch pop musician derives a quarter of his income from teaching, but hardly any knowledge is shared. What building blocks can be used to build a bridge between teaching pop musicians and the field of education? This descriptive qualitative research on knowledge sharing among teaching pop musicians begins with a desk study of arts education from which building blocks are extracted. In parallel, 32 pop musicians were surveyed using the KEROBEI method and, after coding, the results were presented to two focus groups. Through selective coding, the outcomes were related to the results of the desk study.
The study revealed that teaching pop musicians usually start from passion, sparking creativity and, above all, practice (learning) as a social matter. Pop musicians find depth in the theoretical building blocks: activating artistry, skill with creative processes, skill with research processes, digital literacy, imagining meaningful, new worlds, finding balance and connection.
FOURTH LAYER >> DIGGING DEEPER INTO MY OWN EXPERIENCE
The autoethnographic part of my research, divided into three blog posts: before, during and after the first pilot project in 2022.
Look what I made...
I finished the mixing and mastering process of a EP I created for my deceased parents. Here's the the first single I finishedduring The Playground. I talked about this release with many peers, who encouraged me to release this material.
Reflection on the pilot residency in July 2022.
Much interaction, without pressure more end result, peace and space for the mind. On the other hand also too little time, more variety in group composition.
A residency is a unique experience that offers the opportunity to explore the depths of creativity in a safe and supportive environment. It offers a sense of freedom and peace, allowing the mind to wander and thoughts to flow without the pressure of an end result. There is a lot of interaction and collaboration, making it a great opportunity to hone your skills and build relationships with other creatives. The biggest drawback, however, is the often limited time frame, leaving little room to fully explore and experiment. If there was more variety in the composition of the residency, such as a longer period of time, more resources and a more diverse group of artists, the experience would be even more meaningful.
Introduction
There are many benefits to doing a creative residency. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the depths of creativity in a safe and supportive environment, which can lead to new insights, breakthroughs and creative breakthroughs. A creative residency aims to provide artists with a period of dedicated time and space to pursue their creative practice. Artists who travel can experience the same benefits as those based in their own studios. Residencies are a great way to meet people from different disciplines, learn from them and exchange ideas. Creative residencies offer people the chance to focus on their personal or professional development in an unfamiliar environment, which can help them gain new perspectives on life and work. They also offer the opportunity to make new contacts with people from different cultures and backgrounds.
Overview of the residence experience
The space is small and cozy, and you feel the hermetic nature of the building. Sharing the kitchen and bathroom with people from different disciplines can be challenging, but it's good to have those interactions. In general, the residents are open and curious, making the space a great place to get to know people. The environment is informal and relaxed; most activities take place in the common area. The general feel of the place is peaceful and quiet, making it a great place to wrestle with your thoughts. The way the program is structured leaves room for exploration and the unexpected, but is also very disciplined. There are two required workshops each week, and one of them is always focused on writing. The other can be focused on art or another discipline. The workshops are great and inspiring, and force you to think critically about your work. The rest of the week is free to explore and experiment.
Benefits during the stay
- Freedom and peace The first benefit is the feeling of freedom, which is essential for creativity. After a long day of exploring, you can shut yourself off from the world and concentrate fully on your own thoughts. You have time to explore your own ideas and engage in very focused work. The second advantage is the quietness of the building. You feel that when you enter. It's like stepping over a threshold. The city, the noise and the stress are suddenly gone. - Interaction and collaboration The third advantage is the interaction with other creative people. It's not just talking about your work, but exchanging ideas and experiences. Sharing your work and getting feedback is a great way to take your work to the next level. Moreover, it is also a great opportunity to meet like-minded people. - Negative aspects of a residency - Limited time frame The first disadvantage is the limited time frame: most residencies last from 2 to 8 weeks. It is important to keep your expectations realistic. You cannot expect to gain tremendous insights in such a short time. It is a long-term process that can take years to fully integrate. It can be frustrating not to see results right away, but the insights and breakthroughs will come if you really set your mind to it. - Lack of variety in composition The second drawback is the lack of variety in composition. In most residencies, there is a specific group of people you interact with. It's great to have some consistency, but it would be even more useful if there was a more diverse group of people. - Suggestions for improvement The first suggestion for improvement is a longer period of time. You really need time to fully explore your ideas and get the most out of the internship experience. A short period of time can be a little frustrating because you are always in a hurry. Having more time would allow you to focus on the work and fully explore your ideas. - A longer period would also allow for more variety in the composition of the group. A diverse group creates a dynamic and interesting environment, which is essential for creative exploration. The second suggestion is a wider range of resources. The resources available in the residency vary from residency to residency, and it would be great if more resources were available. A wider range of resources would allow for more exploration and experimentation, which is essential for creativity.
Conclusion
All in all, a creative residency is a great experience and highly recommended. The experience of a creative residency varies from person to person, but the general benefits of a creative residency are freedom, rest, interaction and experimentation. Creative residencies offer people a chance to focus on their personal or professional development in an unfamiliar environment, which can help them gain new perspectives on life and work. They also provide an opportunity to forge new bonds with people from different cultures and backgrounds.
**Autoethnographic Analysis of Residency Programs by Thijs Schrijnemakers, June 2022**
My name is Thijs Schrijnemakers, a 36-year-old white male. I was born in the south of The Netherlands and grew up in a family of four. My parents provided me with a good education, interesting hobbies, and a curious attitude towards the world. I hold a master’s degree in education and two bachelor’s degrees in education and music.
Music has always been the most important thing in my life. I studied music for six years and have been a performing and recording musician for over fifteen years. I’ve toured many countries and met many people through music. Currently, I tour domestically as a musical director for a theater show and teach music and didactics at a music university. I realize I’m part of a privileged group—the white, heterosexual male—and have had easy access to many opportunities. While I believe in equal chances for everyone, I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had.
Losing my parents during college forced me to grow up quickly and develop a sense of independence. This initially boosted my music career, but a subsequent mental breakdown made me reevaluate my personal and professional activities. For the past five years, I’ve been more careful in engaging with new people, which has become one of my main challenges.
Over the past fifteen years, I’ve met many musicians and education professionals worldwide. I believe music professionals should engage as much as possible, finding common ground rather than emphasizing differences. This perspective has motivated me to set up a residency for music professionals.
In the Dutch music landscape, I’ve been supported with public funds for creating theater programs and have extensively toured The Netherlands and Europe as a signed artist. I work as a professor at Fontys Rockacademie, a secretary for Music Hub Brabant, and an advisor for Pop in Limburg. My experience gives me a clear view of what’s happening in our country’s music scene.
Residency programs are common in literature and fine arts but rare in modern music genres like pop, dance, and hip-hop. The Dutch music industry focuses heavily on marketing, leaving little room for the collaborative and exploratory interactions that occur in college. After graduation, professionals often work in isolation, which hinders the development of new ideas.
As a music student, I participated in many international projects and organized road trips for music students and professionals. Touring in Europe and China, I found common ground with other professionals, despite language barriers. These experiences showed me the value of informal interactions in building professional networks.
The first residency-like program I set up was a collective internship at a Berlin music school for twenty-five young adults. While it initially felt successful, feedback revealed that my approach was too paternalistic, highlighting the need for participants to develop independence.
I’ve since learned to give participants space to develop themselves and now prefer working with adults. I believe professionals need environments where they can develop freely without constant oversight. Contemplation is often underestimated in the fast-paced music industry, but it’s crucial for creating great music.
To establish a successful residency program, I need willing participants for a pilot program and adequate funding. Support from those who participate will be crucial. I believe there’s too little attention given to the creative process in the music industry, and this residency program could help deepen the approach to music creation.
As a Caucasian male with ample opportunities and a deep passion for music, I feel a strong commitment to developing this residency program.
Look what I made...
During The Playground Residence I found time to create music for a short theater play, focussing on corrupt behaviour in small municipalities in The Netherland's deep south. Quite a mouthful... It's basicly a music soundscape infused with Italian folk tunes and delayed percussion tracks.