Audience as Composer

Music as a form of non-verbal communication plays or§should play an important role in our emotional and§intellectual lives. In recent years, much attention§has been given to the idea of identity. Questions of§identity frequently focus on a sense of place or§belonging, some combination of nationalism and§ethnicity, the latter often including or conflated§with race. Music in general, and Western art music§in particular, can both manifest and influence a§sense of place in those who encounter them. Music§started as a group activity, even incorporating§"non-musicians" by the inclusion of singing or§chanting and percussive actions. In many ways music§has evolved into distinct categories of participants,§such as performer, listener, observer, conductor. §This work explores specific efforts to revitalize the§concept of music as a group activity or process by§utilizing technology to make the theoretical aspects§of music more accessible. The concept of engaging§the listener by transforming the audience into the§composer via technology should be especially useful§to music and education professionals, as well as to§anyone who enjoys the art form.