Introduction
50:50 online is a `telematic` project, it is an online event hosted zoom.us.
The ensemble employs system 50:50 to deliver music that is related to the genre: `free improvisation in music `
There is a schedule for weekly events during 2024, the day of the week is Wednesday, the times are: `Doors open` 19.00, session starts 19.30.
Please refer to the tab `schedule 2024` for the dates, and the times expressed as a function of UTC.
The regular sessions are for participants and project associates.
A series of Octets will be made from the set list. For example, were there to be twelve improvisers on the set list, four would sit out one set as a member of the audience and there would be three sets of improvised music. Everyone will play, but not necessarily in every set.
This project is rewarding and a success. It allow improvisers from around the country to meet. play together on a weekly basis.
Feel the potential!
Schedule 2026
Weekly on a Wednesday during this month in 2024 and for the forseeable future.
"Doors" 19.00
Sound check 19.10 - 19.30
Concert starts 19.30 duration 40 minutes maximum
An online participatory event hosted by the web application ZOOM,us
1. Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 (1/7/26)
2. Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 (1/14/26)
3. Wednesday, January 21st, 2026 (1/21/26)
4. Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 (1/28/26)
5. Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 (2/4/26)
6. Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 (2/11/26)
7. Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 (2/18/26)
8. Wednesday, February 25th, 2026 (2/25/26)
9. Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 (3/4/26)
10. Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 (3/11/26)
11. Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 (3/18/26)
12. Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 (3/25/26)
13. Wednesday, April 1st, 2026 (4/1/26)
14. Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 (4/8/26)
15. Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 (4/15/26)
16. Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 (4/22/26)
17. Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 (4/29/26)
18. Wednesday, May 6th, 2026 (5/6/26)
19. Wednesday, May 13th, 2026 (5/13/26)
20. Wednesday, May 20th, 2026 (5/20/26)
21. Wednesday, May 27th, 2026 (5/27/26)
22. Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 (6/3/26)
23. Wednesday, June 10th, 2026 (6/10/26)
24. Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 (6/17/26)
25. Wednesday, June 24th, 2026 (6/24/26)
26. Wednesday, July 1st, 2026 (7/1/26)
27. Wednesday, July 8th, 2026 (7/8/26)
28. Wednesday, July 15th, 2026 (7/15/26)
29. Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026 (7/22/26)
30. Wednesday, July 29th, 2026 (7/29/26)
31. Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 (8/5/26)
32. Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 (8/12/26)
33. Wednesday, August 19th, 2026 (8/19/26)
34. Wednesday, August 26th, 2026 (8/26/26)
35. Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026 (9/2/26)
36. Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 (9/9/26)
37. Wednesday, September 16th, 2026 (9/16/26)
38. Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026 (9/23/26)
39. Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 (9/30/26)
40. Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 (10/7/26)
41. Wednesday, October 14th, 2026 (10/14/26)
42. Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 (10/21/26)
43. Wednesday, October 28th, 2026 (10/28/26)
44. Wednesday, November 4th, 2026 (11/4/26)
45. Wednesday, November 11th, 2026 (11/11/26)
46. Wednesday, November 18th, 2026 (11/18/26)
47. Wednesday, November 25th, 2026 (11/25/26)
48. Wednesday, December 2nd, 2026 (12/2/26)
49. Wednesday, December 9th, 2026 (12/9/26)
50. Wednesday, December 16th, 2026 (12/16/26)
51. Wednesday, December 23rd, 2026 (12/23/26)
52. Wednesday, December 30th, 2026 (12/30/26)
The schedule for 2025 will appear before 12.02.2025
Start time 19.00 is translated as UTC/GMT Plus zero/0 hour beginning on 27.10.2024
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Start time 19.00 is translated as UTC/GMT Plus 1 hour beginning on 30.03.2025
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Start time 19.00 is translated as UTC/GMT Plus zero/0 hour beginning on 26.10.2024
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Start time 19.00 is translated as UTC/GMT Plus zero/0 hour beginning on 27.10.2023
Wednesday, January 03, 2024
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Wednesday, February 07, 2024
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Wednesday, March 06, 2024
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Start time 19.00 is translated as UTC/GMT Plus one hour beginning on 31.03.2024
Wednesday, April 03, 2024
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Wednesday, May 01, 2024
Wednesday, May 08, 2024
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Wednesday, June 05, 2024
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Wednesday, July 03, 2024
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Wednesday, August 07, 2024
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Wednesday, September 04, 2024
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Wednesday, October 02, 2024
Wednesday, October 09, 2024
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Start time 19.00 is translated as UTC/GMT Plus zero/0 hour beginning on 27.10.2024
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Wednesday, November 06, 2024
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Wednesday, December 04, 2024
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
{/slider}
About System 50:50
The Blank Canvas Octet is a project exploring free ensemble improvisation in music in a large ensemble context. It uses the ‘system 50:50` - where chess clocks are used to bring cohesion to the sound field which can often become cluttered. The result is a dynamic and shifting canvas of sound that allows small discreet sounds to be heard and deeper layers to be felt and expressed. An exciting project to participate in, to witness and to hear.
What improvisers say about System 50:50 for improvisers
Charlie Collins, improviser, Sheffield wrote on system 50:50 “Definitely something with LOADS of possibilities - the reaction in the car driving back was unbelievably positive - no one could remember playing in a large ensemble that was so "open". The openness allowed me to play quietly, which meant the dynamics were incredible for an improvising large ensemble.” -
Another point of listening comes from Simon Ross, Macclesfield. `System 50/50 works well - it’s a really good way to get a group to play effectively without egos, virtuosity, and shyness getting in the way. It is democratic, inclusive, coherent, leaderless, focused, there is room to think and time to listen, choices. It is less competitive and more cooperative. Ends well.`
Dan Goren, Oxford Improvisers. `"It seems to me that any attempt to restrict what free improvisers play, presents a threat to the core nature of their music. Generally, 'To play or not play' is about as far as any predetermination can productively go, the player retaining (almost!) complete formal agency regarding when and what (s)he decides to play"
Richard Harding Liverpool. ``Sometimes in free improv it is just not working but we carry on in the hope it will get better, in system 50:50 if it (free improv) is not working one can select tacet and stop playing`
Jon Aveyard, Lecturer UCLan University. `It gives me permission to do nothing`
Helen Conning, Liverpool. It is democratic
Chapter and verse about System 50:50 for improvisers!
Follow this link
The players
The Blank Canvas Octet during this month in 2024 will feature the following, more or less:
CLAYTON JACKSON, electronics and objects, Silverdale
GUILLERMO TORRES, sound, Spain.
LYN HODNETT, voice, Wales & other
MARTIN HACKETT, Korg Ms, Oxford
PHIL MORTON, accidents and treatments, Liverpool
PAUL MEDLEY. clarinet, Oxford
CHRIS PARFITT, misc, Bridgend, Wales
IRENE IZQUIERDO, voice, Berlin
ROBIN HARTWELL, liverpool.
lapsed members; DAN GOREN, trumpet, Chipping Norton, Nick Branton, reeds, Liverpool. SABINE KUSMAUL, guitar, Macclesfield, GARFIELD SOUTHALL, guitar, Chester, GEOFF BRIGHT, reeds, Sheffield, GILL WHITELEY, strings, Sheffield : website
Tickets
This offer, you can book a ticket to attend a session is not currently available.
Free tickets and information for audience members: currently not available
Interested in just listening in, being a member of an audience? You can do this once a month, on the last Wednesday of the month.
Tickets
Tickets for audience members are available at Eventbrite:
For the correct and up to date Eventbrite link please visit the Eventbrite tab in this article.
Or let us know by sending an email to: philmorton at improvisersnetwork.co.uk
What is on offer?
- You are invited to join the online session.
- First time
- You need to a conversation about the session and what is involved.
- This is a `once only` meeting usually an hour before the session starts
- For first timers and strangers this is not negotiable.
- Repeat attenders.
- No need to join the meeting before the session
- You will be sent the zoom link for the session.
- During the session
- During the session, when the Octet are playing you have you audio muted and video feed switched off.
- At other times, the microphone settings and video settings are optional. You can be sociable.
- Done
What you need
- A compuer
- Broadband
- A basic understanding of how zoom works.
- An audio system that allows you to listen to the session
Information: how an improviser, musician can participate as a `Ghost` :currently not available
The short story is.
If `free ensemble improvisation` is new to you or you may wish to engage discreetly with the Blank Canvas Octet you can be a `ghost`
A ghost participates in the session discreetly by muting their input to the session.
A ghost can interact with the live feed from the Blank Canvas Octet in their own space but not fill the sound field of the zoom performance.
Phil Morton writes, this an excellent opportunity yet to be tested for musicians who wish to explore improvisation whose histories and experience of free ensemble improvisation is thin, who are yet to acquire a composure in a free ensemble improvisation sound world environment. It can be experienced as a development process that can be added to or replace the practice of attending workshops. It is available weekly. The player can learn by `doing` . The availability of attendance is regular, frequent, it is weekly.
Alternatively: if the session is `full` an improvisers may attend: as a `ghost` or audience member as an alternative to the dissapointment of not attending.
System 50:50 is a simple process but sometimes simplicity maybe a challenge. Ghosting introduces all improvisers to system 50;50 in a safe environment. You can test and try system 50:50.
Tickets for audience members and ghosts
are available at Eventbrite: For the correct and up to date Eventbrite link please visit the Eventbrite tab in this article
Event information for active participants:
Weekly on a Wednesday during this month in 2024 and for the forseeable future.
"Doors" 19.00 BST
Sound check 19.10 - 19.30 BST
Concert starts 19.30 BST duration 40 minutes maximum
An online participatory event hosted by the web application ZOOM,us
Tickets
Tickets at Eventbrite - NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME
Individual can attend the sessions, within the zoom framework, once per month, usually the last Wednesday of the month.
You will need access to the hardware and software to attend the online sessions.
If this is an obstacle let us know.
- The following link will take you to the host eventbrite account Improvisers networks online
- This will display a list of events, one of which is Blank Canvas octet Online, click on that option
- The Eventbrite tickets list is displayed here
Video
The Blank Canvas octet
The nature and practice of free ensemble improvisation using System 50:50
Duration 6 minutes
Tacet 3 minutes
Free play 3 minutes
12 players
Office use
Object: Eventbrite page, target London
Developed by Phil Morton over a period of twenty years.
If you have tried this method or want to know more you can attend as a member of the audience a zoom session with The Blank Canvas Octet. The Octet has been meeting and working with system 50:50 for improvisers every week since May 2020.
Tickets (limited to three) to attend are available at Eventbrite.
Object: Eventbrite page, all regions, local to global
Developed by Phil Morton over a period of twenty years.
If you have tried this method or want to know more you can attend as a member of the audience a zoom session with The Blank Canvas Octet. The Octet has been meeting and working with system 50:50 for improvisers every week since May 2020.
Tickets (limited to three) to attend are available at Eventbrite.