Will The Future Of Music Notation Be Animated?

There seems to be less notation used in music than ever before. Why write it down when it’s easier to record it? That being said, notated music still holds a mighty place in music instruction, and when needed to get the exact point across when needed (like in the studio). The big question is, does music notation need to be updated for the tech age?

The problem with music notation as we know it is that it’s only a sketch, and musicians learn to play beyond the notes printed on the paper after they become proficient at their instrument. How much beyond is open to interpretation, but what if we there was another way for a composer to more precisely specify what he or she expects a musician to play?

Cat Hope, a professor at the Sir Zelman Cowen School Of Music at Monash University in Melbourne Australia thinks that a screen-based animated design of notation is the way to go. That way, color, movement and graphics can be used to provide a level of communication with the player that mere pen and paper could never do before.

Check out the video below:

I’m not sure if this is the best example of what animated notation can achieve, but it’s enough to get a feel for what the potential might be. Look for this idea to blossom in the future.

---