Abstract
The teaching of harmonic foundations in music is a common learning objective in many education systems. However, music theory is often considered as a non-interactive subject matter that requires huge efforts to understand. With this work, we contribute a novel tangible device, called ScaleDial, that makes use of the relations between geometry and music theory to provide interactive, graspable and playful learning experiences. Therefore, we introduce an innovative tangible cylinder and demonstrate how harmonic relationships can be explored through a physical set of digital manipulatives, that can be arranged and stacked on top of an interactive chromatic circle. Based on the tangible interaction and further rich visual and auditory output capabilities, ScaleDial enables a better understanding of scales, pitch constellations, triads, as well as intervals. Further, we describe the technical realization of our advanced prototype and show how we fabricate the magnetic, capacitive and mechanical sensing.
Related Publications
In CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Extended Abstracts. CHI ’19, Glasgow, UK, Scotland. ACM 2019.
Publisher Video Research Website
ScaleDial:
A Novel Tangible Device for Teaching Musical Scales & Triads
| Category | Tangible Devices |
|---|---|
| Project date | 2019 |
| Project URL | imld.de/scaledial/ |
| Collaborators | Jannik Wojnar, Prof. Raimund Dachselt |
| Video | Watch on YouTube |
| Technologies and Methods |
Raspberry Pi Python Rapid Prototyping Audio 3D-Printing Laser Cutting Soldering Magnetic CapSense Mechanical NFC |
Interactivity at ACM CHI 2019
in Glasgow, Scotland UK.
Further presentations
Interactivity at Long Night of Science '23.Invited presentation at CHI Lites '19.
Interactivity at Output.DD '19.