Virtual Music Instruments (VMI): Music-based Physical Rehab for Kids

Our founder, Dr. David Alter, is working with Adrian Anantawan and researchers at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital to adapt Virtual Music Instrument Technology for the purpose achieving physical rehabilitation through the creation of great music.

Virtual Music Instrument (VMI) technology detects motion using a webcam. There are different computer shapes and animated objects situated on the computer screen and each shape or object is linked to a sound file. When a person moves a body part (whether it be an arm, eyes, or head depending on the programming of the webcam’s motion sensing capabilites) the movements are directed towards the location of a particular shape or object and the corresponding sound file will then play.
Until now, the sound generated from these shape/object stimulated sound files have been very basic. What we are doing is creating a more sophisticated collection of sounds so that when shapes/objects are activated, it generates a music passage – when there are multiple shapes or objects activated by several patients simultaneously, the goal is to create an “esthetically pleasing” orchestral arrangement. Children need not necessarily be musically-gifted or experienced.

This project has many benefits to children with physical disabilities – it helps individuals create, coordinate with each other for collective performance, musically arrange, and rehabilitate physically while doing so — bottom line, it builds self-esteem and confidence. The plan here is to eventually do a live performance with kids, and perhaps on top of this, add some selective musicians who can solo on top of (concurrent with) the virtual music instruments’ performance above.

Contact our project manager, Sarah Adamson, at sarah@vigourprojects.com to learn more about this project and how you can become involved.