A Methodological Framework for Teaching, Evaluating and Informing NIME Design with a Focus on Mapping and Expressiveness Sebastian Mealla and Sergi Jordà Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Long Paper
The maturation process of the NIME field has brought a growing interest in teaching the design and implementa- tion of Digital Music Instruments (DMI) as well as in find- ing objective evaluation methods to assess the suitability of these outcomes. In this paper we propose a methodology for teaching NIME design and a set of tools meant to inform the design process. This approach has been applied in a master course focused on the exploration of expressiveness and on the role of the mapping component in the NIME cre- ation chain, through hands-on and self-reflective approach based on a restrictive setup consisting of smart-phones and the Pd programming language. Working Groups were formed, and a 2-step DMI design process was applied, including 2 performance stages. The evaluation tools assessed both System and Performance as- pects of each project, according to Listeners’ impressions after each performance. Listeners’ previous music knowl- edge was also considered. Through this methodology, stu- dents with different backgrounds were able to effectively engage in the NIME design processes, developing working DMI prototypes according to the demanded requirements; the assessment tools proved to be consistent for evaluating NIMEs systems and performances, and the fact of inform- ing the design processes with the outcome of the evaluation, showed a traceable progress in the students outcomes.
