For Easter ConFest 1998 we co-ordinated an area to demonstrate and 
teach synthesiser skills.
A wide range of musical genres were covered 
ranging from from NewWage to TechKnow. 

The workshops were two hours worth a day. 
No experience or even musicianship was 
required by members of the public to participate in the workshops. 
ConFesters had a go at tweaking some dials on the synths 
and seeing what effect it has on the overall sound. 
There were also specific workshops for femmes by femmes.

One evening we took the controls and demonstrated
what can be done by the experts. 
No "stage" as such was used because we would wanted audience members 
to feel comfortable about coming up close to see what we are doing.

We are emphasising and encouraging a live element in 
the creation of electronic music.
Together with the workshop philosophy, 
it emphasises spirit and tradition of Confest.

We incorporated the proliferation of drummers at ConFest to collaborate. 
Apart from jamming with electronic musicians,
We also encourage drummers to play the keyboards.
They have better rhythmic skills than most electro people and 
techno is nothing but rhythms with really weird percussion sounds.
So instead of having automated rhythms we had a human feel... 
with a contemporary sound.

The workshop idea was first implemented at the EarthCore TechnoFest 1997 
ForestRave and the tradition succesfully continued at 
the next two Easter ConFests.

Events we ran:
* electronic music workshops
* cyber-shamanism forums
* origami workshops (courtesy of Nik)
* electro-accoustic improvised performance
* mask-making workshop for masquerade
* The QuietSpace (as per NewYear's ConFest)