Abstract Turntablism Workshop with Maria Chávez

Explore the unexpected creative possibilities of sound in this hands-on workshop with internationally acclaimed sound artist and abstract turntablist Maria Chávez.

Using turntables and vinyl records as instruments, Chávez will introduce participants to the principles of Abstract Turntablism—a practice Chávez has developed over the course of 25 years. Based on her first book on Abstract Turntablism, Of Technique: Chance Procedures on Turntable, the workshop takes participants on a journey from ancient civilizations to the turntable’s emergence as one of the most coveted playback technologies in history.

Through demonstrations, guided exercises, and hands-on exploration, Chávez will share foundational techniques from her book, transforming records into expressive tools for sonic exploration and inviting participants to experiment with texture, rhythm, and the unpredictable qualities of recorded sound. Each participant will receive a PDF of her book after the workshop to continue their experiments.

Presented in conjunction with Still in Sound, this workshop offers an opportunity to engage abstraction through listening as much as making, discovering how curiosity, material experimentation, and unexpected outcomes can reshape the way we experience sound.

No musical training or previous experience is required. All materials will be provided. Ages 12 and up.

The program costs $30 for adults, $20 for seniors, and a $10 materials fee for CSM members. Program costs include Museum admission for the day. Space is limited, and advance registration is required to attend in person at the Clyfford Still Museum.

Born in Lima, Peru, and based in NYC, Maria Chávez is best known as an abstract turntablist, sound artist, and DJ. Coincidence, chance, and failures are themes that unite her work across mediums, including improvised performance, sound and marble sculpture, visual art, and book objects. Her approach is rooted in Deep Listening, a form of embodied listening developed by her late mentor, Pauline Oliveros. Maria is the only abstract turntablist in the world who performs with a rare needle known as the RAKE Double Needle. This special device contains two needles on one head, allowing it to read two different segments of a single record at the same time. Paired with her inimitable ability to create unforgettable sonic experiences from shards of broken records, each performance is truly unique. Maria’s practice is profoundly expansive, responsive, and curious. Her work has been featured and supported by a myriad of institutions over the past decades, including Rewire Festival, Counterflows Festival, Donau Festival, The Guggenheim Museum, The Getty, The Wire, MOCA Jacksonville, Black Mountain College Museum, and many, many more. Chavez’s 2012 book, Of Technique: Chance Procedures on Turntable, has garnered a reputation as both an academic resource on turntablism and a foundational text for a new generation of turntablists.