EarSketch

About

Technology Jason Freeman, Thomas Jenkins, Hera Kan, Elise Livingston, Brian Magerko, Scott McCoid, Christopher Michaud, Neeraj Vaidya, and Shannon Yao from Department of Music and School of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech have developed EarSketch- a program that teaches programmatic composition and remixing of music. Through the free, browser-based EarSketch application, users can learn how to create music by writing code in Python or JavaScript. The application ensures a fully guided experience by having instructional material side-by-side the Code Editor. EarSketch teaches computer science and music technology simultaneously. Coding concepts are used to create and remix music within a digital audio workstation (DAW) that is widely used throughout the music industry.  Though primarily a learning tool for music composition, EarSketch’s instructional curriculum incorporates broader learning for the Python and Java coding languages; concepts covered included functions, lists, loops, and conditionals. Users are also given instructional and reference material on both languages should they want to use them for other purposes. Potential Commercial Applications The primary target for the EarSketch application is for K-12 education as well as introductory computer science courses at the college level. Its web-based application entails that no supplementary programs need to be installed making it readily available for a classroom setting Sponsorship  EarSketch is receiving sponsorship and funding from the National Science Foundation, the Scott Hudgens Family Foundation, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and the Google Inc. Fund of Tides Foundation.