Breaking new ground: Sony Assistive Musical Instrument Hackathon

Here's what happened when with music-makers and creative technologists from Paraorchestra, Drake Music, Pervasive Media Studio, Watershed, and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. in a three-day hackathon exploring new possibilities in assistive music technology.

Working intensely in small teams across the course of 72 hours, teams of musicians and technologists sought to address barriers faced by D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent music creators, 'hacking' a range of cutting-edge assistive music technology from tactile instruments to wearable sensors.

This project was a fantastic challenge, with a multitude of different musicians and partners working across time zones and language barriers to coordinate a concentrated, super-productive burst of activity across the three days. 

The hackathon epitomises the approach we want to take with our artist development programme Modulate  – collaborative, innovative and with disabled music creators setting the agenda. 

Special thanks to all of the musicians and technologists who took part and all of the partners on the project: Drake Music, Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., Watershed, Pervasive Media Studios, Yuru Music and MyWorld.