IMTCP

The Interactive Music Technology Curriculum Project, or IMTCP, sought to use interactive software to teach composition and performance to non-music students. The software allows the number keys on a computer keyboard to play diatonic scale degrees and chords in a given key. In 2010, IMTCP was conducted at Rowan University with a group of middle-school to early high school students in a one-week music camp setting during the summer. Activities involved brief explanations of terminology and harmony concepts in which the software was used exclusively to demonstrate these musical ideas. Students were asked to name ten songs that they liked which we reduced to a single sheet of paper containing the form and chord progressions containing just the numeric diatonic chord functions.

With a list of chord functions and the ability to play such chords just by pressing a number key on the computer keyboard, students played through their favorite songs and composed original compositions using the same model. The chords generated by the software could utilize internal software timbres or could be routed to a third party DAW like GarageBand where the timbres could be changed and the data could be recorded and layered.

As the week progressed and the understanding of building triads and taller chords by trigger a note from a diatonic scale became clearer for the students, a MIDI keyboard was introduced by which a C major scale would be used to trigger the diatonic scale degrees. The software would then take the single note of the scale played by the student and complete the chord, so that if a user played D, scale degree two in the key of C major, the software would add the third and fifth to the chord, F and A. The MIDI keyboard would in essence be functioning as a trigger just like the computer keyboard was being used earlier. Eventually, the software was removed completely and students played chords on their MIDI keyboard. The software also has the feature to detect pitch from a microphone so that electric guitars or acoustic instruments could be harmonized in the same way.

Students recorded several original compositions each using nothing, but the IMTCP software and GarageBand. Students were permitted to use drum loops if desired, but all other harmonic or melodic content had to be original. In addition to composing and performing diatonic chord functions, students soon became comfortable with identifying progressions and chord functions by ear. A number of pop songs were played in which the students were able to identify the progression by ear using the software as an aid.

There are six IMTCP software titles used in 2010, labeled E000 - E005, each with a specific purpose. Each of these programs was introduced with an explanation of the musical concepts it highlighted before students were asked to use it to help them compose an original piece. You can find out more about each of these items by clicking any of the following options:

-E000

-E001

-E002

-E003

-E004

-E005

This project was developed by V.J. Manzo, PhD and is available here. For more information on IMTCP, visit The IMTCP Homepage. More information on EAMIR is available here.

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Hardware:

-Computer Keyboard (MIDI Keyboard optional)

Software:

- Download here for Mac or PC

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Demonstration:

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