Presenting MUGO, a Sensor Based Instrument that Enables Music Creation Through Music

Richard Llewellyn, TiME, UK, Prof Adam Ockleford, The Amber Trust, UK, Gawain Hewitt, UK

​Sound Moves is funded by The Amber Trust and is a partnership project with TiME (Technology in Music Education UK). The project is supported by Professor Adam Ockelford working with Instrument developer Gawain Hewitt.

The project's main goal was to develop and test a musical instrument that uses sensors to detect small movements and trigger sounds, specifically designed for children with Batten disease and restricted mobility. The key objectives for this instrument included making it easy to use with limited movement, fun and satisfying to play, portable with minimal setup, and affordable, so more children and young people could use it at home or in various settings.

In phase 1, these aims were successfully met. The instrument was developed and tested, proving to be accessible, enjoyable, and simple to operate, with minimal setup required. Additionally, it was designed with cost-efficiency in mind, ensuring it can be more widely distributed to benefit a broader range of children.

The team have agreed to name the instrument the MU-GO (Music-device, Gesture Operated). The MU-GO is a non-contact, sensor based instrument that enables music creation through movement.

At this session we would like to demonstrate how it works and talk about the disabled musicians who would benefit from using it.