BlockyTalky: A Physical and Distributed Computer Music Toolkit for Kids

R. Benjamin Shapiro, Rebecca Fiebrink, Matthew Ahrens, and Annie Kelly

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

• Year: 2016
• Location: Brisbane, Australia
• Track: Papers
• Pages: 427–432
• DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1176120 (Link to paper)
• PDF link

Abstract:

NIME research realizes a vision of performance by means of computational expression, linking body and space to sound and imagery through eclectic forms of sensing and interaction. This vision could dramatically impact computer science education, simultaneously modernizing the field and drawing in diverse new participants. We describe our work creating a NIME-inspired computer music toolkit for kids called BlockyTalky; the toolkit enables users to create networks of sensing devices and synthesizers. We offer findings from our research on student learning through programming and performance. We conclude by suggesting a number of future directions for NIME researchers interested in education.

Citation:

BibTeX Entry:

  @inproceedings{Shapiro2016,
 abstract = {NIME research realizes a vision of performance by means of
computational expression, linking body and space to sound and imagery through
eclectic forms of sensing and interaction. This vision could dramatically impact
computer science education, simultaneously modernizing the field and drawing in
diverse new participants. We describe our work creating a NIME-inspired computer
music toolkit for kids called BlockyTalky; the toolkit enables users to create
networks of sensing devices and synthesizers. We offer findings from our research
on student learning through programming and performance. We conclude by
suggesting a number of future directions for NIME researchers interested in
education.},
 address = {Brisbane, Australia},
 author = {R. Benjamin Shapiro and Rebecca Fiebrink and Matthew Ahrens and Annie Kelly},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.1176120},
 isbn = {978-1-925455-13-7},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 pages = {427--432},
 publisher = {Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University},
 title = {BlockyTalky: A Physical and Distributed Computer Music Toolkit for Kids},
 track = {Papers},
 url = {http://www.nime.org/proceedings/2016/nime2016_paper0084.pdf},
 year = {2016}
}