Andy Cavatorta

Sound | Research | Machines as a Medium

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WORKSHOP SERIES

I teach workshops on The Science of Acoustic Sound, Mechanisms and Movements, Thinking in Binary, and Motion Control.

Currently offered workshops are listed below.

MOTION CONTROL SERIES

This workshop introduces participants to the theory and practice of motion control. In three all-day, hands-on workshops, we cover the full stack. The Science. The Circuits. The Code. [ it's all in the video -> ]

  • Sign up for current workshops at Eventbrite
  • THE THEORY & PROTOTYPING CURRICULUM

    The Theory and Prototyping Curriculum is a constellation of weekend workshops on theoretical concepts and practical skills.

    These workshops teach designers, architects, artists, and coders powerful ways of thinking that are usually taught only in science and engineering curricula.

    Perceive More. Understand More. Imagine More. Create More.

    Learn the bedrock knowledge and competencies the boot camps and creative tech programs gloss over.

    You can explore all of the topics in the mandala below.

    PROFESSORING

    At The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, all students must take one semester of Engineering Design and Problem Solving. Every professor teaching this course is selected for their real-world domain experience. And each professor creates their own curriculum.

    I created and taught two different curricula for Engineering Design and Problem Solving in 2015 and 2019. My mission was to teach students new to research and development the value of prolific prototyping.

    LECTURES
    • 2025
    • MIT Media Lab | Theory and Prototyping
    • Pinball Expo | The Most Complex Game
    • 2023
    • MIT Museum | Whale
    • UMass Composers Seminar | Early Electrophones
    • 2022
    • NYU ITP | The Design of Good Instruments
    • 2021
    • NYU ITP | The Design of Good Instruments
    • 2019
    • NYU ITP | The Design of Good Instruments
    • Acoustical Society of America | Keynote: Acoustic Sound and Meaning
    • Atlas Obscura @SXSW | Panelist: In the Element
    • 2018
    • MACAA Conference | Keynote: Prototypes and Creative Process
    • FAB14, Toulouse | Music, Machines, and Meaning
    • FAB14, Toulouse | Keynote Panel
    • 2017
    • MoogFest | Music, Machines, and Meaning
    • MoogFest | Physical Oscillators and Expressive Dimensions
    • Boyer College of Music and Dance | Music, Machines, and Meaning
    • 2016
    • Technical University, Graz | Music Has Always Been Technological
    • Atlas Obscura Talks | The Telharmonium
    • 2015
    • School of Visual Arts | Recent Work and Findings
    • Spotify NYC | Recent Work and Findings
    • O’Reilly Solid Conference | Music, Machines, and Meaning
    • Music, Machines, and Meaning | Music, Machines, and Meaning
    • 2014
    • Design Leadership Conference | Closer: Music, Machines, and Meaning
    • MIT CAST | Gravity Harps and New Works
    • MIT Media Lab | Music Has Always Been Technological
    • UPenn Music Department | UPenn Music Department
    • St. Mary’s University, London | Music, Machines, and Meaning
    • Spotify USA | Gravity Harps and New Works