[LAU] Announde: DSP02 - Music composition software for children

[andersvi at extern.uio.no]

Hi David.

I think you misunderstand the intention of this program somewhat.  One
of the aims of this program is to give young people a creative option,
and make available tools which don't "help them" by adjusting
everything they might express to narrow grids of 400 year old musical
scales, 300 year old harmonic techniques and hammering it into 4
beats.

The program (together with its forerunner "DSP") has been in use in
lots of schools and in workshops for several years, and i can assure
you that kids getting exposed to DSP02 (or its forerunner) in a class
don't usually "get frustrated and leave it behind", quite the
opposite!

If you tried this program (preferably together with some cheap,
portable recorders to grab their "own" sounds) in a normal school
class, You might get very surprised how open-minded kids may be if
they're not busy adhering to what their teachers or top-forty tells
about what's right or wrong or how its supposed to sound before they
get to try themselves!

-anders

>>>>> "DB" == David Baron <d_baron at 012.net.il> writes:

    DB> My comments: This does have a fairly simple interface to
    DB> playing with sounds.  The parameters portrayed/drawn on these
    DB> screens are technical, however. One can have fun with the
    DB> program but the pitch of the sound (if it has one, you can
    DB> download farm animal samples from their site :-) ), is fixed
    DB> on these screens. One cannot play a keyboard and compose music
    DB> with this, just assemble series of sounds on multiple tracks
    DB> (quite handily, but still...)

    DB> An older child that is bent towards playing with synthesis
    DB> might get into this program but when he/she cannot really
    DB> compose, will doubtless be frustrated and leave it behind. It
    DB> is really not a kids program as such. It remains fairly
    DB> technical.