Music Hackspace Family Workshop: Build a Ghost Detector

In this workshop you will learn about electronics and electromagnetic frequencies and build your own Electromagnetic Frequency detector, The Grim Beeper. Created by Artist Tara Pattenden this unit picks up electromagnetic frequencies and produces a noise signalling invisible activity in the air nearby.

EMF detectors are used by ghost hunters to detect fluctuations in temperature and electromagnetic energy which are seen as indicators of paranormal activity. 

In this workshop you will experiment with electronics and build your own Grim Beeper to take away and investigate ghostly presences at home or elsewhere. Led by Artist Tara Pattenden you will learn how to solder and the basics of audio electronics. The Grim Beeper is made of two main parts. An EMF detector which lights an LED when Electromagnetic frequencies are detected. This light controls the sound of a square wave oscillator.

The workshop will be lead by Tara Pattenden, an artist, instrument maker and educator who has been working in sound and electronic media for the past 20 years. She performs with Goodiepal and Pals, the fckn bstrds and solo as Phantom Chips. With her Phantom Chips project she makes her own wearable synthesizers that can be stretched and squeezed to create sound, and in this workshop she will be presenting her Lerango drone machine.

This workshop is for one adult accompanying a young person aged 13 -16 who will work together on building one Grim Beeper between them. Ticket price includes all components and construction, no previous experience of electronics or soldering necessary! 

If you have any questions about this workshop please contact learningbookings@somersethouse.org.uk

The venue is located on the ground floor of Somerset House and is fully wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet. If you have any other access requirements, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate them.