Assistive Technology and Music Performing
Lecture for
Faculty of Applied Arts
Conservatory of Music and Drama
Course: Bachelor of Music
Julio Berrincha DT202 – Msc in Computing / Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology and Music Performing
What is assistive technology?
Assistive or Adaptive Technology commonly refers to "...products, devices
or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that
are used to maintain, increase or improve the functional capabilities of
individuals with disabilities...“,
Assistive Technology products can enable people with disabilities to
accomplish daily living tasks, assist them in communication, education, work
or recreation activities, in essence, help them achieve greater independence
and enhance their quality of life. Assistive Technology devices can help
improve physical or mental functioning, overcome a disorder or impairment,
help prevent the worsening of a condition, strengthen a physical or mental
weakness, help improve a person's capacity to learn, or even replace a
missing limb.
Assistive Technology and Music Performing
Types of disabilities:
•Physical impairments affecting movement, such as muscular dystrophy, post-polio
syndrome, spina bifida and cerebral palsy.
•Sensory impairments, such as visual or hearing impairments.
•Neurological impairments, such as epilepsy or dysautonomia.
•Cognitive impairments such as Autism or Down Syndrome.
•Psychiatric conditions such as Depression and Schizophrenia.
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Causes of disabilities:
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Causes of disabilities:
Or…
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Causes of disabilities:
Accident
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Causes of Disability
Many professionals and business people think they're "exempt" from the possibility of becoming disabled. The
following list of actual claimants is taken from a major insurance carrier's disability files. What could prevent
you from working?
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Exercise:
Imagine that you have a disability.
Describe your disability.
Choose an instrument you think you might be able to play.
Choose an instrument you think you might not be able to play.
Explain why.
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A bit of law:
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A bit of law:
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Accessing musical instruments doesn’t necessarily mean in a professional way.
People with disabilities might like to play musical instruments , just like everyone else.
Devices were created and adapted to facilitate this interaction
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When John Rinaldo (see below) bass player in Range of Motion progressively
lost strength due to Muscular Dystrophy, Don rigged up a stand which allowed
him to stand behind the instrument and play it without bearing its weight.
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The Abacus Capo system is a tool that allows
the player to independently capo any note on
any string (currently to the 14th fret). It allows
the player to quickly move from the standard
guitar tuning to capoed positions that would
normally be impossible. Each string has its
own movable capo which can be positioned
up and down the fret board, allowing the
player to create a multitude of chords and
tunings.
It uses powerful magnets in combination with
a custom stainless steel fret board. The
magnets in the capos are attracted to the fret
board, holding a note when positioned behind
the fret. The capos are made up of many
components which work together to give great
tone and easy movement. They can be
stopped behind the nut; leaving the system in
an "off" position, returning the string to its
original tuning
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Voice-to-Midi Converter - this device, when
connected to a midi-capable keyboard can
produce real-time instrument sounds from
the voice. This means that a disabled
person who is unable to use his/her arms,
could play keyboard by singing.
Assistive Technology and Music Performing
The theremin was invented in 1919 by a Russian physicist
named Lev Termen (in the United States his name was
Leon Theremin). Today, this marvelous instrument is once
again in the musical spotlight.
Besides looking like no other instrument, the theremin is
unique in that it is played without being touched.
Two antennas protrude from the theremin - one controlling
pitch, and the other controlling volume. As a hand
approaches the vertical antenna, the pitch gets higher.
Approaching the horizontal antenna makes the volume
softer. Because there is no physical contact with the
instrument, playing the theremin in a precise melodic way
requires practiced skill and keen attention to pitch.
In the early 1920's, Leon Theremin came to the United
States to promote his invention. He was given a studio to
work in, and he trained several musicians to help bring the
theremin into the public eye. Then, in 1938, Leon Theremin
was taken back to the Soviet Union by force, leaving behind
his studio, friends, business, and his wife. After a stay in a
prison camp, Leon Theremin reportedly worked for the KGB
designing among other things, the "bug" and methods for
cleaning up noisy audio recordings.
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Exercise:
Having seen some examples of adapted instruments:
Do you think these would allow you to perform professionally?
Why / Why not?
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For reflection…
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Top 10 Disabled
Musicians
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10. Ian Dury
Helping to bring the New Wave era to the
forefront, Ian Dury and his band, Ian Dury
and the Blockheads, became extremely
well known in the late 1970s, a time of
punk rock, drugs, and of course, sex. His
hit song, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll,
describes the era entirely, but sadly not
many know that the song was in fact
written by Dury, despite the fact that so
many bands, even in today’s world, cover
it. However, at the age of seven, Dury
was stricken by polio and suffered the
long-term effects of the disease, which left
it hard for him to walk and also shrunk his
arm. To accommodate, Dury often used a
stick as an aid to walk. However, Dury
looked past his disorder and was able to
breakthrough, along with his band, as a
song writer, singer, and even an actor.
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9. Brian Wilson
One of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson has
been able to put a lot into his band, often
providing backing vocals, keyboards,
bass, and sometimes even lead vocals.
Most importantly, Wilson is the primary
songwriter for the band. In 1988, the
Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame. However, many
wouldn’t guess that Wilson is deaf.
Though not entirely deaf, he hardly has
any hearing in his right ear, many suspect
that it’s because of his father hitting him
in the head, or a bully who used to hit
him. Wilson is also said to have
schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. In
any case, Wilson has been able to put his
disabilities aside and continues to play
and tour with the band
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8. Teddy Pendergrass
Teddy Pendergrass hit the stage as an
American soul and R&B singer, as well
as songwriter. However, he first started
his career as a drummer for The
Cadillacs, a band that soon became
known as Harold Melvin & the Blue
Notes after merging. During this
merge, Pendergrass was invited to
become the lead singer, and accepted.
The band had plenty of hits, including
Wake up Everybody, I Miss You, and
The More I Get the More I Want. In
1982, Pendergrass was in an accident
that left him paralyzed from the waist
down and also limited arm usage. After
his accident, Pendergrass toured in a
gospel musical and then soon retired
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7. Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton is most notably known
for his soft rock ballads, as well as his
past a heavy metal singer for
Blackjack. However, many don’t know
that Bolton is deaf in one ear. He first
came to the forefront after co-writing
How Am I Supposed to Live Without
You? as well as for singing Gloria, a
disco hit at the time. In the late 1980s,
Bolton joined the easy listening genre
and did a cover of Otis Redding’s
(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay as well
as Georgia on My Mind. He also got
into composing songs for other artists,
including Kiss, Patti LaBelle, Kenny G,
and many others. retired
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6. Tony Iommi
Known for being the sole constant
band member of Black Sabbath, Tony
Iommi has definitely been able to
overcome his disability. As a guitarist
for the band, you’d think that Iommi
would need all of his fingers in order to
play properly. However, at the age of
17 due to an industrial factory accident,
Iommi lost the tips of his middle and
ring finger on his right hand. To
accommodate for this, Iommi took his
disability in his own hands and created
plastic covers to put over his fingers.
To do this, he melted plastic soap
bottles, molded them to his fingers, and
then carved and shaped them to be
suitable for playing guitar and covered
them with leather. Today he wears
custom made tips
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5. Curtis Mayfield
As a funk, R&B, and soul singer, Curtis
Mayfield definitely had a lot of talent.
Besides being a song writer and singer,
he also played the drums, guitar, piano,
bass, and even the saxophone. As a
member of The Impressions and the
composer to the Super Fly soundtrack,
Mayfield’s career always seemed
promising. In August 1990, a lighting rig
fell on Mayfield during a sound check
before a New York concert. The rod struck
him and his third, fourth and fifth
vertebrae were all broken, leaving him
paralyzed from the neck down. Despite
the fact that he was unable to play an
instrument, Mayfield didn’t give up, and
would lie on his back in order to catch
enough breath to sing. As painful as it
was, Mayfield still created another album
before his death .
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4. Rick Allen
At the age of five, Rick Allen seemed to
know becoming a drummer was for him.
Over the years Allen became even better
at playing the drums, and soon tried out to
become a drummer for Def Leppard, who
at the time was in need of a drummer. In
1987, Allen became a member of the
band, and in 1980 the band’s first album
was released. However, in 1984, Allen
was in a car accident. Due to a seatbelt
injury, he lost his arm, which was at first
reattached, but then had to be taken off
due to infection. To accommodate for his
missing arm, Allen got specially made
drum kits, since he knew he could still
keep a beat with just one hand
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3. Ludwig van Beethoven
Despite the fact that he lived centuries
ago, Beethoven today still has a lasting
impact on classical music. German in
decent, Beethoven is the most well-known
composer when examining the transition
between the Classical era into the
Romantic period. In the 1790s, Beethoven
slowly began to lose his hearing, but
continued to play, compose, and conduct.
Eventually he became entirely deaf, yet
he didn’t let his disability stop him. To
continue to play, he used a rod that was
attached to a piano soundboard that he’d
bite and would vibrate so that his sound
perception was increased. However,
Beethoven last played publicly in 1811
when he failed to play Piano Concerto No.
5
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2. Ray Charles
Ray Charles is most definitely a legend in
the music industry. Not many can do what
he did, which was to bring country music
to an entirely new level by bringing a new
soulful sound to it. He has been called a
legend and genius b y Frank Sinatra, and
has even appeared in hit movies, like The
Blues Brothers. Charles plays the piano,
sings, and acts, all while being blind.
Though not born blind, his eyesight
started to deteriorate around age five, and
he was completely blind when he turned
seven. Despite his disability, Charles was
able to provide hit songs, most notably
Georgia on My Mind and Hit the Road
Jack
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1. Stevie Wonder
As an American singer, songwriter,
instrumentalist, and record producer,
Stevie Wonder definitely deserves a spot
on the list. Despite the fact that he was
born blind, Wonder has been able to
inspire many and continues to provide
great lyrics and music. He has been
successful since the early 1960s, and
today continues to play his music. Signed
with Motown Records at 11, Wonder has
been able to produce more than 30 top
ten hits in the U.S. During his career, he
has also received 22 Grammy Awards
and even a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Wonder has also been inducted into the
Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame
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Questions?
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Thank you!