EAMIR

            One of the most interesting and fun applications of innovative technology to music education is definitely the EAMIR project created by V.J. Manzo.  Manzo taught at Montclair State University when I took the course Music and Computer Technology in 2011 and it was an enlightening and enjoyable experience.  EAMIR stands for “Electro-acoustic Musically Interactive Room,” which is what Manzo referred to his classroom as when he taught K-12 music.  The project was born from two main obstacles: the diverse levels of musicianship among students and the ability to address the needs of students with disabilities.  Looking to technology as a resource, he developed a series of adaptive instruments to use in his classroom to facilitate learning goals.  Each of these instruments (primarily software instruments) were uploaded and available for students and their parents to download to use at home.  This developed into the project it is today.  EAMIR is now described as “an open-source music technology project involving alternate controllers, sensors, and adaptive instruments to facilitate music composition, performance, and instruction through a collection of interactive music systems. The EAMIR software apps have been implemented in classrooms, including special needs and disabilities populations, research projects, and composition/performance environments.”

            The apps use a variety of interfaces to work, each designed with the students in mind.  Many patches simply require a computer and a mouse, while others utilize touch screen computers, ipads, webcams and smart boards.  Some apps even feature the use of popular videogame controllers including Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution.

            To learn more, visit the EAMIR website at: http://www.eamir.org/