RoboJam: A Musical Mixture Density Network for Collaborative Touchscreen Interaction

RoboJam is a machine-learning system for generating music that assists users of a touchscreen music app by performing responses to their short improvisations. This system uses a recurrent artificial neural network to generate sequences of touchscreen interactions and absolute timings, rather than high-level musical notes. To accomplish this, RoboJam's network uses a mixture density layer to predict appropriate touch interaction locations in space and time. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of RoboJam's network and how it has been integrated into a touchscreen music app. A preliminary evaluation analyses the system in terms of training, musical generation and user interaction

O uso da Loop Station em performance musical: implicações e exigências interpretativas

O objetivo deste artigo eÌ discutir sobre as possibilidades de uso da Loop Station em performances musicais e suas implicações. O texto centra-se na criação e performance de um arranjo/exerciÌcio que consiste numa colagem das obras musicais Beat 70 (Pat Metheny) e Asa branca (Luiz Gonzaga/Humberto Teixeira) e utiliza como setup: flauta transversal, Loop Station Boss RC-30, pedal Guitar Processor GP-10 e Footswitch. Busca-se, portanto, abordar o processo de preparação, elaboração e performance, descrevendo aspetos importantes como: conf iguração de paraÌ‚metros de efeitos, exigeÌ‚ncias interpretativas com relação ao movimento do corpo no controle de pedais e criteÌrios para notação musical. Este arranjo/exerciÌcio foi desenvolvido com fins didaÌticos, onde a componente tecnoloÌgica eÌ signif icativamente simples, visto ser direcionado para pessoas com pouca ou nenhuma experieÌ‚ncia com pedais de efeitos e tem sido usado em workshops realizados em escolas de muÌsica, festivais, confereÌ‚ncia e outros tipos de encontro

Loop Station Conducting (LSC) : A study on live looping as an ensemble conducting approach

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Networks of Liveness in Singer-Songwriting: A practice-based enquiry into developing audio-visual interactive systems and creative strategies for composition and performance.

This enquiry explores the creation and use of computer-based, real-time interactive audio-visual systems for the composition and performance of popular music by solo artists. Using a practice-based methodology, research questions are identified that relate to the impact of incorporating interactive systems into the songwriting process and the liveness of the performances with them. Four approaches to the creation of interactive systems are identified: creating explorative-generative tools, multiple tools for guitar/vocal pieces, typing systems and audio-visual metaphors. A portfolio of ten pieces that use these approaches was developed for live performance. A model of the songwriting process is presented that incorporates system-building and strategies are identified for reconciling the indeterminate, electronic audio output of the system with composed popular music features and instrumental/vocal output. The four system approaches and ten pieces are compared in terms of four aspects of liveness, derived from current theories. It was found that, in terms of overall liveness, a unity to system design facilitated both technological and aesthetic connections between the composition, the system processes and the audio and visual outputs. However, there was considerable variation between the four system approaches in terms of the different aspects of liveness. The enquiry concludes by identifying strategies for maximising liveness in the different system approaches and discussing the connections between liveness and the songwriting process

Understanding musical leadership in light of performative and pedagogical practices from a hermeneutic practice ecological perspective

Doctoral thesis (PhD) – Nord University, 2021This article-based thesis consists of an extended abstract and three articles. The thesis is divided into two parts with a total of four texts and focuses on developing knowledge of musical leadership. In Part I, a synthesis is presented in the form of an extended abstract, and in Part II, the three articles constituting the substance of the synthesis are presented. The author recommends reading the articles first as they constitute the background of the synthesis. The following is an overview of the two parts of the thesis. Part I - The extended abstract is a synthesis of CS1-3 that consists of an introduction, previous research, theoretical framework, methodology and method, findings, discussion, and conclusions. In this synthesis, a hermeneutic practice ecological perspective serves as a theoretical lens for the comprehensive investigation of CS1–3. The conclusions suggests the Perpetual Practice Dialogue Complex as an approach to combine performative, pedagogical and research practices in the means to reveal, develop and articulate understandings in and on musical leadership. Part II - The articles for each component study (CS) are attached as they were published or available in manuscript form at the time of this thesis submission. Through CS1-3, understandings of musical leadership were developed at the intersection of qualitative research and arts-based research (ABR). Nine concepts that served as aspects of musical leadership relevant to conducting were revealed by investigating a record producer’s practice (CS1). Through ABR, six of the nine concepts were transformed into sonic extractions (CS2), and live looping through loop station conducting (LSC) as an ensemble conducting approach offered several perspectives relevant to ensemble conducting in a pedagogical context (CS3). Keywords: musical leadership, record producer, hermeneutic practice ecological perspective, arts-based research, music teacher educationpublishedVersio

Integrating Sensor Technology into Artistic Practice: A critical examination of the role of the performer

This research questions how interactive music technology might enable creativity in performers. The format is a semi-autoethnographic narrative that follows the performer’s artistic process of preparing nine compositions for performance; these works are for bass clarinet or clarinet and live processing (created with Ableton Live, Max for Live, and the SABRe multi-sensor and remote). In order to conduct this research, I remixed two existing bass clarinet works, collaborated with two composers on six new works, and composed my own piece. I maintained a reflective journal for four and a half years that documented the process of preparing these compositions for performance. Excerpts from this journal are interwoven throughout the main text of this thesis and provide insight into the activities of music practice and performance, programming, collaboration, improvisation, remixing, and composition. The findings from this research highlight the human aspect of using technology in performance and demonstrate that technology can expand the practice of performers. As both the programmer and performer, I found that my performance practice informed how I programmed the sensors, and programming in turn affected how I practiced. The sensors required me to make decisions on how physical movements would affect the live electronics, thus causing me to reconsider the connection between my mind and body in performance. Additionally, the process of deciding how to integrate the sensors in performance compelled me to look inward at my own practice and question preconceived ideas of creativity. Ultimately, this research provides an in-depth look into contemporary performance practice, while also offering several new approaches to using interactive music technology in performance

Side By Side: Reinventing Mother/Daughter Relationships

Beginning with mother/daughter film classics such as Stella Dallas (1937) and Mildred Pierce (1945), and moving to consider recent mother/daughter texts, Anywhere But Here (1999) and "Gilmore Girls" (2000 -), this thesis, in both its written and visual components, examines the multiple and often contradictory ways in which mothers and daughters have been represented in popular culture. Challenging the discourses that singularly stress struggle and separation, this research highlights representations that emphasize mother/daughter connection, and examines how such identification empowers mothers and daughters. This project is guided by cultural studies and feminist film theories. The first two chapters outline past and present paradigms of mothers and daughters respectively; the third chapter examines the goals and findings of the visual component