IMPACT Conference 2016

Learning violin involves hours of practicing where students are left alone to evaluate their own playing. Many students consider rehearsals unenjoyable and prefer to do other more stimulating activities. Our goal was to develop a challenging approach to practicing the violin by creating a new game based on gamification concepts, in order to help students to get more engaged in their rehearsals and receive feedback regarding their playing. Through an immersive, interactive multi-sensorial interface, we developed an innovative way to encourage young violinists to progress in the video game by doing improvisations and mastering musical skills integrated in the game play. Our interface is based on a transcription system and applying, “in real time”, a direct link between what the instrumentalist is producing on his/her violin and the action inside the virtual three-dimensional images. To play, the violinist uses his instrument as a joystick that triggers interactivity in the game.