About

I am a Lecturer in Music Production specialising in digital audio workstations (Ableton Live, Avid Pro Tools), computer music programming (Max for Live, Arduino), and audio recording. I compose within the electronic dance music spectrum and perform this music live.

I hold a PhD from Newcastle University, critiquing the conventional understanding of live electronic music through empirical research on DJ practice. In 2008, my collaborative creative work gained international recognition through the audiovisual piece Improvisation 1 & 2, which was showcased at the Transmediale Festival for Art and Digital Culture in Berlin and nominated for the Transmediale Award.

I have published papers on creative practice and audio education, and held residencies at Culture Lab Newcastle and STEIM (the Studio for Electro-Instrumental Music) in Amsterdam.

In addition to my teaching, I undertake the following duties:

• Programme Leader for BSc (Hons) Music Production

Previous roles include:

• Project Manager for FdA Creative Music Production (Loughborough College)
• Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Applied Studies (Music) top-up (Loughborough College/ Vision West Nottinghamshire College)

Teaching responsibilities

I teach on the following programmes:

• MA Music Production
• BSc (Hons) Music Production
• BA (Hons) Popular Music 

I am module leader for:

• Creative Technology Exploration (Level 4)
• Sonic Systems (Level 5)
• Digital Signal Processing and Sound Design (Level 7)

Professional interests

• Electronic dance music producer
• Live electronic musician

Research interests

• Live electronic music
• Techno
• DJ culture
• Turntablism 
• Controllerism
• Music education 

Membership of professional bodies

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Qualifications

• BMus (Hons) Popular and Contemporary Music (First-Class Honours) - Newcastle University
• Master of Music (Distinction) - Newcastle University
• PhD - Newcastle University

Recent conferences

Selected Conferences:

• Vandemast-Bell, P. (2017) Perspectives on musical time and human/machine agency in the development of performance systems for Live Electronic Music. Innovation in Music Conference, University of Westminster, UK, 6-8 September
• Vandemast-Bell, P. (2016) 3D EDM. Sounds In Space symposium, University of Derby
• Vandemast-Bell, P. (2015) Seeking Best Practice for Training and Education in the recording Studio. 26^th Audio Engineering Society Conference on Audio Education, Glasgow University
• Bell, P. & Ferguson, J. (2008) ‘The role of Unpredictability within Musical Creativity’, Digital Resources for the Humanities and Arts (DRHA), Cambridge University
• Bell, P. & Ferguson, J. (2008) ‘Tron Lennon’, Sound, Sight, Space and Play, Music Technology and Innovation Research Centre (MTIRC), De Montfort University

Selected Performances:

• Vandemast-Bell, P. & Brown, M. (2018) Time Tides. Performed at Sounds In Space Symposium, Derby, University of Derby
• Vandemast-Bell, P. & Brown, M. (2017) Immersive Deconstruction: An exploration of dynamic loop-based performance diffused in a multi-channel environment. Performed at Klingt Gut! Symposium on Sound, Hamburg University
• Vandemast-Bell, P. (2016) Dynamic Loops and Processing. Performed at Electronic Music Concert, University of Derby
• Vandemast-Bell, P. (2016) Deformed EDM. Performed at 16th international conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
• Vandemast-Bell, P. (2016) 3D EDM. Sounds In Space symposium, Derby, University of Derby
• Vandemast-Bell, P. (2013) Minimal Glitch Techno. Performed at Improvisation and Digital Arts Festival, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames
• Vandemast-Bell, P. & DJ Sniff (2011). Turntable Performance. Performed at Guildford International Music Festival, University of Surrey
• Bell, P. (2009) Turntable Performance. Performed Gateshead, The Sage: Sound 09
• Bell, P. & Ferguson, J. (2008) Tron Lennon. Performed Cambridge, Cambridge University: Digital Resources for the Humanities and Arts (DRHA)
• Bell, P. & Ferguson, J. (2008) Tron Lennon. Performed Leicester, Music Technology and Innovation Research Centre (MTIRC), De Montfort University: Sound, Sight, Space and Play
• Bell, P.  (2008) Turntable Performance. Performed at Newcastle-Gateshead AV 08 Festival: Broadcast Newcastle, Culture Lab
• Bell, P. & Ferguson, J. (2008) Tron Lennon. Performed Berlin, Club Maria Ostbahnhof: Transmediale Festival of Art and Digital Culture
• Bell, P. & Ferguson, J. (2008) Tron Lennon. Performed The Hague, <> TAG Gallery
• Bell, P. (2007) Turtable Performance. Performed at Music and Machines Festival, Culture Lab, Newcastle upon Tyne
• Bell, P. & Ayers, J., Ferguson, J. Hogg, B. & Scrimshaw, W. (2005) Improvised Performance. Performed Stockholm, Fylkingen

Audio/visual dissemination:

• Bell, P. & Ferguson, J. [aka Tron Lennon] (2008) Thank you Reverend [online audio] Amsterdam: Soundmuseum.fm. [Also featured as part of a real-world touring installation at: Club Transmediale 09 Berlin (2009); Rokolectiv Bucharest (2009) Santralistanbul Istanbul (2009); Todaysart Festival Den Haag, (2009); Rhizomatic Amsterdam, (2010)]

Awards:

• Bell, P. & Ferguson, J. [aka Tron Lennon] (2008) ‘Improvisations 1 & 2’. Nominated for Transmediale Award (festival for digital art and culture), Berlin

Recent publications

Selected Publications:

• Vandemast-Bell, P. & Ferguson, J. (2019). Perspectives on Musical Time in the Development of Performance Systems for Live Electronic Music. In R. Toulson, J. Paterson, & J. Hodgson (Eds.) Innovation in Music: Performance, production, technology and business. Routledge
• Vandemast-Bell, P., Werner, D. and Crossley, J., 2015. Seeking Best Practice for Education and Training in the Recording Studio. Audio Engineering Society, [e-journal], 21. Available through: Audio Engineering website 
• Vandemast-Bell, P., 2013. Rethinking Live Electronic Music: A DJ Perspective. Contemporary Music Review, 32(2-03), p.239-248. Available through: Taylor Francis Online 
• Bell, P. & Ferguson, J. (2008) ‘Tron Lennon discuss Collaborative Practice’. In: Fool’s Gold: Practice and Improvisation in Performance, Issue1, Edinburgh College of Art [informal article distributed nationally in free arts newspaper]
• Bell, P. & Ferguson, J. (2007) ‘The Role of Ambiguity within Musical Creativity’. In: My Favorite Supplement: The Joy of the Gizmo, Leonardo Electronic Almanac Vol. 15, No. 11-12 . 31 Dec. 2007.