Robotic Musicianship

Abstract

Inspired and motivated by the prospect of innovating the core of the musical experience, the author have explored a number of research directions in which digital technology bears the promise of revolutionizing the medium. The research directions identified - gestural expression, collaborative networks, and constructionist learning - aimed at creating musical experiences that cannot be facilitated by traditional means. The first direction builds on the notion that through novel sensing and mapping techniques, new expressive musical gestures can be discovered that are not supported by current acoustic instruments. Such gestures, unconstrained by the physical limitation of acoustic sound production, can provide infinite possibilities for expressive and creative musical experiences for novice as well as trained musicians. The second research direction utilizes the digital network in an effort to create new collaborative experiences, allowing players to take an active role in determining and influencing not only their own musical output but also that of their co-performers. By using the network to interdependently share and control musical materials in a group, musicians can combine their musical ideas into a constantly evolving collaborative musical activity that is novel and inspiring. The third research direction utilizes constructionist learning, which bears the promise of revolutionizing music education by providing hands-on access to programmable music making.

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