Feeling the beat where it counts: fostering multi-limb rhythm skills with the haptic drum kit

  • Authors:
  • Simon Holland;Anders J. Bouwer;Mathew Dalgelish;Topi M. Hurtig

  • Affiliations:
  • The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom;The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom;The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom;The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the fourth international conference on Tangible, embedded, and embodied interaction
  • Year:
  • 2010

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Abstract

This paper introduces a tool known as the Haptic Drum Kit, which employs four computer-controlled vibrotactile devices, one attached to each wrist and ankle. In the applications discussed here, haptic pulses are used to guide the playing, on a drum kit, of rhythmic patterns that require multi-limb co-ordination. The immediate aim is to foster rhythm skills and multi-limb coordination. A broader aim is to systematically develop skills in recognizing, identifying, memorizing, retaining, analyzing, reproducing, and composing polyphonic rhythms. We consider the implications of three different theories for this approach: the work of the music educator Dalcroze (1865-1950 [1]; the entrainment theory of human rhythm perception and production [2,3]; and sensory motor contingency theory [4]. In this paper we report on a design study; and identify and discuss a variety of emerging design issues. The study demonstrates that beginning drummers are able to learn intricate drum patterns from haptic stimuli alone